French champions Grenoble opened their 2025/26 Champions Hockey League campaign at the Patinoire Polesud against Swiss powerhouse SC Bern. Returning to the competition for the first time since the 2022/23 season, the Brûleurs de Loups were eager to make a statement on home ice, but the visitors arrived well prepared to spoil the party.

The opening period was a goalless affair. Bern controlled much of the play, while Grenoble found momentum only in the final minutes after a holding call on Marco Müller. However, their first powerplay went unused and the score remained 0–0 at the break.

The deadlock was broken midway through the second period, and Bern struck twice in quick succession. At 31:29, Müller cut in from the left and fed Waltteri Merelä, who buried the puck from close range. Just 18 seconds later, Anton Lindholm blasted a one-timer past Matija Pintarič to double the lead. Despite two powerplay opportunities, Grenoble could not respond and trailed 2–0 after 40 minutes.

The final frame brought no change to the storyline. Even with the extra attacker late on, the French champions were unable to find a way past Bern’s defence. As the final buzzer sounded, the Swiss side skated away with a 2–0 victory and a perfect start to their CHL season.