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The Champions League raised the curtain with the defeat of the reigning champion, Liverpool, in the San Paolo cauldron against Napoli (2-0), which prevailed with goals from Dries Mertens and Fernando Llorente. This is how Klopp's team began their title defense, with a loss and a rather discouraging fact for the 'Reds' in their quest to retain the European throne.
In the history of the European Cup, in its 64 editions, only twice has it happened that the team that was crowned champion of the tournament started with a loss. The first time was in 1965-66, when an unexpected Real Madrid, which no one had on their radar as a possible champion, ended up winning the final against Belgrade 2-1. On that occasion, the 'Whites' debuted with a loss to Feyenoord (2-1).
Real Madrid won the final and lifted their sixth European Cup at Heysel.
While the other team was AC Milan in 1968-69. The Italians lost in the premiere against Swedish Malmo 2-1, although they were finally crowned champions after beating Ajax 4-1 in the final.
AC Milan beat the Dutch in the final held at the Bernabéu.
And the panorama gets even more complicated for Anfield's team since since 2011 all the champions started the competition with a win. This is how things are for Liverpool, who will have to go against history as well as a group that has an unexpected leader, Salzburg, who beat Genk 6-2.
The next Champions League match for the English team will be against the Austrian team, which has Erling Braut Haaland among its figures, who scored a hat-trick in just 45 minutes.