The Champions League did not disappoint on its return, with a dramatic game played out between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.
2025/26 is the second year of the new Champions League format, with Manchester United missing out once again.
United blew the final chance to qualify for the competition by losing the Europa League Final last season, and missed out on European football altogether.
Now the Red Devils are mere spectators, and one player who was linked with a move to United during the summer ended up taking centre stage.
Dusan Vlahovic celebrates scoring for Juventus
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Dusan Vlahovic steals the show
Dusan Vlahovic replaced Jonathan David after 59 minutes with Borussia Dortmund leading 1-0. The fun was just getting started.
Within 10 minutes the scoreline was 2-2, with Vlahovic scoring Juventus’ second goal to tie level.
Dortmund were the team that kicked on, scoring twice more to take a 4-2 lead entering stoppage time.
And that’s when Vlahovic really took over, scoring a goal to make it 4-3, his second of the game, before whipping in a cross for former Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly to score an equaliser.
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Kelly’s equaliser came in the seventh minute of injury time to force a 4-4 draw, with Vlahovic responsible for three of Juventus’ goals.
How Dusan Vlahovic was offered to Man Utd
Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic was linked to Manchester United consistently throughout the 2025 transfer window.
The forward was listed as an alternative to Benjamin Sesko, as recently as early August.
Fabrizio Romano reported at the time: “Man Utd have been offered the possibility to sign Dusan Vlahovic again. He is out of Juventus’ project.
“It’s something like, if you can’t get the deal done for Sesko, Vlahovic is an opportunity. The deal is on the table.”
Juventus were even linked with offering Vlahovic to United to try and acquire Jadon Sancho as part of a swap deal earlier in the summer.
Vlahovic stayed with Juventus, although had to settle for a place on the bench in their Champions League opener with Borussia Dortmund, behind their new signing Jonathan David.
There is a case that Manchester United should have doubled down on the Sesko move by pushing to sign Dusan Vlahovic too, and provide competition.
It’s a compelling argument – if you cut out the fact that any extra money should have been spent on an additional midfielder or two instead.
Meanwhile the striker is likely feeling pretty good right now that he stuck around at Juventus, after enjoying his big night on the Champions League stage.