Berlin, 18 September 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Harry Kane scored four to inspire Bayern Munich to a record 9-2 thumping of Dinamo Zagreb while Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger helped beat ex-club VfB Stuttgart as the Champions League launched its new format on Tuesday.

"An exciting, crazy game," Kane told DAZN. "It was a fantastic evening. Three penalties in one game, I've never had that before. By the third, I didn't know what to do or where to shoot."

Madrid's Kylian Mbappé finished off a fine move for his first Champions League goal for the holders but Deniz Undav levelled for last season's surprise Bundesliga runners-up, only for Rüdiger to make it 2-1 on 83 minutes and Endrick to add the gloss.

Liverpool came from behind to beat AC Milan 3-1 in a repeat of the famous 2005 final.

Christian Pulisic rifled home after a flying start at the San Siro.

But Ibrahima Konaté sent in a towering header from Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick midway through the first half and central defensive partner Virgil van Dijk nodded in after another set piece. Dominik Szoboszlai made the game safe.

Sporting beat Lille 2-0 in Lisbon courtesy of Viktor Gyökeres and a rocket from Zeno Debast. The French side had England midfielder Angel Gomes sent off for a second booking before half-time.

Earlier, twice winners Juventus beat PSV Eindhoven 3-1 and debutants Aston Villa won 3-0 at Young Boys Bern.

The new league phase was developed by UEFA to see off the threat from a Super League, with Juve among those pushing hard for a breakaway.

Teams will play eight games rather six in the old group system, four clubs at home and four different sides away in the so-called Swiss model. The league phase now lasts until the end of January.

Olise double for electric Bayern

Bayern, with coach Vincent Kompany taking charge of his first Champions League game, went ahead on 20 minutes thanks to Kane's penalty after a VAR check ruled out Serge Gnabry's goal for offside - but decided Aleksandar Pavlović had been tripped.

Raphael Guerreiro then slammed in the second after Jamal Musiala's clever chest-off and close-season signing Michael Olise soon headed in a quickly-taken corner for his first Champions League goal.

Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer went off at half-time with a knock and replacement Sven Ulreich was soon picking the ball out of his net twice after goals from Bruno Petković and Takuya Ogiwara.

But Kane soon calmed home nerves as he moved above Wayne Rooney as the top-scoring Englishman in the Champions League.

Olise got his second before Kane followed his hat-trick on Saturday in the 6-1 win at Holstein Kiel with another secured from the spot.

A further penalty gave him four for the campaign already - and 33 in the competition overall - after he topped the scoring charts for the entire Champions League last term with eight, alongside Mbappé.

There was even time for Leroy Sané and Leon Goretzka to net as Bayern, who host May's final, scored nine in the Champions League for the first time.

Thomas Müller also made his 152 Champions League appearance for Bayern, breaking Xavi’s record for the most games with one club.

Villa triumphed in Bern thanks to a clever finish from Youri Tielemans, a bizarre goal by Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana's strike.

Birmingham-based Villa, who won the European Cup in its previous form in 1982, had little trouble adjusting to the artificial pitch in the Swiis capital and were helped by comical defending for their second goal. The visitors also had two goals ruled out for handball.

Coach Unai Emery told TNT Sports: "We focused very well for 90 minutes to be consistent. We were adapting on the pitch. We always respected them."

Photo: EPA