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RC Lens secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over SK Slavia Praha in their opening UEFA Champions League league phase fixture, capitalizing on two stoppage-time goals after the Czech champions played much of the second half with ten men.
Match Turning Point and Red Card
The match shifted in the 49th minute when Slavia defender Mikuláš Konečný received a straight red card just three minutes after entering the pitch. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Slovenian forward Danijel Šturm fired Slavia ahead in the 51st minute. RC Lens responded through an equalizer from Abdallah Sima in the 73rd minute. Šturm restored the hosts’ lead in the 88th minute before Lens mounted a late stoppage-time rally, with Florian Thauvin leveling the score in the 91st minute and Jonathan Aguilar sealing the 3-2 triumph in the 93rd minute.
European Struggles for Slavia Praha
With this latest loss, Slavia’s tough stretch in the proper Champions League continues, extending a winless run of 20 matches dating back to 2007 alongside a 16-game drought across all European tournaments. Though Ivan Schranz came on as a substitute for Slavia in the 84th minute, the Czech backline could not withstand the late wave of pressure. Slavia will look to rebound when they travel to Baku to face Sabah on October 13.
Heavy Wins for Bayern Munich and Manchester United
Elsewhere in the competition, Bayern Munich delivered a dominant 5-0 victory over Norwegian side FK Bodö/Glimt. Making his first start since returning from injury, Jamal Musiala broke the deadlock in the 47th minute before Harry Kane scored with a header in the 61st minute to find the net in his eighth consecutive Champions League appearance. Extending the advantage, Alphonso Davies notched a third goal, while Michael Olise rounded off the victory by scoring in the 83rd and 92nd minutes.
Playing at Old Trafford, Manchester United triumphed 4-0 over Azerbaijani newcomers Sabah FK to celebrate their first Champions League appearance in nearly three years. United built a 3-0 lead by halftime through goals from Matheus Cunha in the 27th minute, Bruno Fernandes in the 42nd minute, and Benjamin Šeško right before the break. Defender Lisandro Martinez added the fourth in the 68th minute.
Other European Results
In additional opening round fixtures, Calcio Como defeated RB Leipzig 4-1 with goals from Martin Baturina, Anastasios Douvikas, Diao, and Máximo Perrone, while Nikola Maksimović scored for Leipzig. Fenerbahçe and AS Roma played out a 1-1 draw in Istanbul with goals from Archie Brown and Bryan Cristante. PSV Eindhoven also drew 1-1 with Shakhtar Donetsk following second-half strikes from Sergiño Dest and Kevin Mendoza.
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