Chelsea's Six-Goal Avalanche Headlines a Night of European Drama

A rich evening of football produced its share of memorable moments, but none more startling than what unfolded at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea, trailing at half-time, scored six second-half goals in 41 minutes to beat Leeds 6-3 in the Carabao Cup — a result of the kind that gets talked about long after the final whistle. It was one of the highest-scoring domestic cup ties in recent memory, and for Leeds, who had briefly threatened an upset, the collapse was spectacular.

In the Champions League, the group stage delivered its usual opening-night theatre. Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 at Anfield, with Alexis Mac Allister's superb strike the decisive moment. Arsenal were composed and controlled in a 1-0 win over Napoli, Odegaard's goal separating the sides. Stuttgart's Ermedin Demirović announced himself to Europe with a first-half hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Viking, while newly promoted Como beat RB Leipzig 4-2 on their Champions League debut — a result that felt genuinely significant. Manchester United, back in Europe's top flight, saw off Azerbaijani side Sabah FK, with Benjamin Sesko's form catching the eye ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby.

Off the pitch, the French Football Federation's decision to withdraw support for Gianni Infantino's FIFA re-election bid was a pointed piece of governance news — a signal that European unity behind the incumbent is no longer assured. At Fenerbahce, coach Ismail Kartal announced his resignation at a press conference after a 1-1 draw with Roma, only for president Aziz Yildrim to publicly contradict him minutes later. A chaotic end to an eventful day.