PSG made a spectacular start to the UEFA CL as Ousmane Dembele and Ferran Torres scored five goals between them in a 6-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava.
Dembele put PSG in front after 17 minutes, reacting quickest after Nuno Mendes’ ferocious strike crashed back off the post. The Ballon d’Or winner doubled the advantage just six minutes later, heading home Dro Fernandez’s deflected cross to put the hosts firmly in control.
Dembele then turned provider, delivering a teasing ball into the six-yard box for summer signing Torres, who calmly tapped in at the near post to score his first European goal for PSG and make it 3-0 after 31 minutes.
Torres continued his sparkling debut just two minutes into the second stanza, finishing brilliantly after a clever run and lay-off from Maghnes Akliouche. The Spanish World Cup winner completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute, sweeping home from Dembele’s corner to put PSG 5-0 ahead.
Slovan, managed by former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, pulled one back almost immediately when Suleiman Camara shifted onto his right foot inside the box and fired into the top corner.
But there was still time for PSG to add a sixth, with Fabian Ruiz drilling a low finish into the far corner in the 87th minute to complete a dominant win.
Torres admitted he couldn’t have asked for a better start with the French giants.
“It was like a dream, an incredible night,” he told the press afterwards.
“It was my first Champions League game with PSG and we won and I scored a hat-trick. Seeing such passionate fans, I wish this day could never end! It’s always important to score goals, to play well, to show what the team showed tonight, to live up to the expectations.”
PSG boss Luis Enrique also reflected on the electric atmosphere in Paris that inspired his charges to an emphatic victory.
“The atmosphere at the Parc des Princes for the Champions League is always special – the supporters were incredible,” said the Spaniard.
It’s always incredible here, but tonight’s atmosphere was really special and the team responded. I really liked the intensity with which we started the match, especially that high-intensity without the ball. We are a very hard side to close down and I’m very happy with the result.
“The only negative is conceding that goal, but overall, I’m very happy. I think everyone has confidence in this team, especially our supporters who understand we will go through some difficult times in a season. But we have shown that we are here, that this is our competition and we want to keep it that way.”
