Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland wasted little time making their mark as the Champions League returned Tuesday, with Real Madrid and Manchester City opening the new season with victories.
Mbappe scored early for record 15-time champions Madrid, who beat Inter Milan 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Haaland went one better, scoring both goals as City, the 2023 champions, defeated Porto 2-0.
Madrid and City are expected to be among the leading challengers to two-time defending champions Paris Saint-Germain this season, with both teams again relying heavily on their prolific forwards.
Mbappe opened the scoring after 14 minutes, taking his Champions League total to 71 goals and moving level with Madrid great Raul for fifth on the competition's all-time scoring list.
Haaland, meanwhile, continued his remarkable scoring rate in Europe's premier club competition. His two goals against Porto took his Champions League tally to 59 in 59 appearances.
