Lee Han-beom and Hwang In-beom face UCL defeats

South Korean footballers Lee Han-beom and Hwang In-beom both participated in the opening round of the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League league phase, though both suffered defeats with their respective clubs.

Lee Han-beom made his Champions League debut for Belgian side Club Brugge, playing a full match as a central defender. Despite a strong individual performance featuring a 94% pass accuracy and successful aerial duels, Brugge lost 2-3 to England's Aston Villa. Aston Villa secured an early lead with goals from John McGinn, Emiliano Buendía, and Nicolas Jackson, while Brugge's goals came from Hugo Vetlesen and Nicolo Tréllez.

In Portugal, Hwang In-beom appeared as a substitute for FC Porto in their match against Manchester City. Entering the game in the 68th minute, Hwang attempted to stabilize the midfield, but Porto was unable to overcome a 0-2 deficit. Manchester City's victory was secured by two goals from Erling Haaland.