💫 Monaco stun Barcelona; Atlético leave it late; Brest win; Arsenal held | OneFootball

The first round of Champions League fixtures concluded on Thursday with six matches to enjoy.

Here’s what went down.

Raya earns Arsenal a point

Arsenal had to settle for an opening point after playing out a 0-0 draw with Europa League holders Atalanta.

Both teams cancelled each other out in the opening 45 minutes with the Gunners restricted to a handful of half-chances.

La Dea piled on the pressure after the interval and won a penalty after Éderson was clipped by Thomas Partey in the area.

But David Raya’s sharp reflexes kept his side level by denying Mateo Retegui from the spot with an incredible double save.

At the other end, Gabriel Martinelli spurned a golden opportunity to break the deadlock after racing clear but hooked his effort over.

10-man Barça stunned

Scorers: Akliouche 16′, Ilenikhena 71′; Yamal 28′

Sent off: García

Monaco produced one of the shocks from the Champions League’s opening match week with a 2-1 defeat of Barcelona.

The visitors suffered an early blow as Eric García was sent off just 10 minutes in for bringing down Takumi Minamino on the edge of the box.

Maghnes Akliouche punished the Blaugrana’s disadvantage with a sublime solo effort in which he left Marc-André ter Stegen rooted to the spot.

Hansi Flick’s side restored parity when Lamine Yamal cut inside and unleased a low drive to pull his side level with a first-ever Champions League goal.

But Les Monégasques retook their lead late in the second half through substitute George Ilenikhena’s strike which proved too hot for Ter Stegen to handle.

Atleti leave it late

Scorers: Griezmann 28′, Giménez 90′; Šeško 4′

Atlético de Madrid produced a gritty performance to snatch a late 2-1 win over RB Leipzig.

Benjamin Šeško opened the scoring with a rebounded header after Jan Oblak had denied Loïs Openda from his original breakaway.

But the Colchoneros struck back through Antoine Griezmann volleying home Marcos Llorente’s right-sided delivery inside the area.

At the end of normal time, Diego Simeone’s side snatched the spoils through José María Giménez heading home a Griezmann cross to the far post.

Fairy tale start for Brest

Scorers: Magnetti 23′, Sima 56′; Fernandes OG 45′

Sent off: Lavalée

Brest marked their Champions League foray in fairy tale fashion courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Sturm Graz.

The Austrian Bundesliga leaders were dealt an injury setback in the opening minutes as defender Gregory Wüthrich was stretchered off.

Hugo Magnetti produced the hosts’ first-ever goal in Europe’s elite club competition with a chested half-volley from outside the penalty area.

But they were undone on the stroke of half-time as Edimilson Fernandes turned the ball into his own net after attempting to cut out William Beving’s cross.

Les Pirates retook the lead just 11 minutes into the second half when Abdallah Sima spun onto Ludovic Ajorque’s cross and volleyed home their second.

Christian Ilzer’s side suffered another late blow as Dimitri Lavalée was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Leverkusen run riot

Scorers: Wirtz 5′, 34′, Grimaldo 30′, Wellenreuther OG 44′

Bayer Leverkusen marked their Champions League return with an emphatic 4-0 drubbing of Feyenoord.

Florian Wirtz handed the Bundesliga champions an early lead with a sweeping finish from just outside the penalty area.

The hosts appeared to have pulled level through Ramiz Zerouki’s reactive close-range strike but saw his goal disallowed for offside.

But Álex Grimaldo consolidated the Werkself’s advantage by turning the ball home after Jeremie Frimpong teed him up from Victor Boniface’s clever pass.

Wirtz continued to pile the misery on as Xabi Alonso’s side went three goals to the good at De Kuip with a sidefooted finish from Frimpong’s right-sided deliver.

Things went from bad to worse for their hosts as Edmond Tapsoba slid the ball in via a deflection off Timon Wellenreuther’s legs from a Grimaldo free kick.

A cagier second half saw Feyenoord potentially reducing their deficit before the offside flag denied Ayase Ueda’s header but Leverkusen remained untroubled.

Benfica ride out Red Star

Scorers: Milson 86′ Aktürkoğlu 9′,Kökçü 29′

Benfica held on to claim a 2-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade in their opening encounter.

Kerem Aktürkoğlu put the Eagles ahead on nine minutes by bundling the ball home at the far post.

Bruno Lage’s side extended their lead in fine style shortly before the half-hour mark as Orkun Kökçü struck a sublime free kick.

But the hosts offered them a late scare in the closing stages as Milson halved their deficit by slotting home from Cherif Ndiaye’s through ball.