Key Takeaways:
- Paris Saint-Germain began their UEFA Champions League title defence with a resounding 6-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava
- Ferran Torres netted a hat-trick, while Ousmane Dembele scored two and assisted another two goals
- Yaya Touré made history as the first African manager to feature in the UCL proper despite Slovan Bratislava’s heavy defeat
Dominant Opening from PSG
Paris Saint-Germain began their Champions League campaign in relentless fashion, overcoming Slovan Bratislava 6-1, and stretching their unbeaten sequence in European competition to 12 successive matches.
The reigning champions asserted early control, yet the Slovak visitors demonstrated admirable defiance in defence. Dominik Takac denied Dro Fernández with a superb save after Achraf Hakimi threaded a pass through Ousmane Dembélé’s legs to set up the chance, while Kenan Bajrić provided further resistance by blocking Fabian Ruiz’s effort.
Une entrée en lice réussie pour nos Parisiens en Ligue des Champions !❤️💙
#PSGSLB I #UCL pic.twitter.com/60Clf30hiS— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) September 9, 2026
Dembélé and Torres Shine in Opening Half
The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Dembélé was quickest to react after Nuno Mendes’ powerful strike rebounded off the post, calmly tucking home the opener. Just moments later, Dembélé narrowly missed doubling his tally, but his impact persisted as PSG delivered two rapid blows to Slovan’s hopes. Following Kenan Bajrić’s injury and substitution by Sahmkou Camara, the replacement’s costly error allowed Dembélé to head in a deflected shot from Dro, extending PSG’s lead.
The third goal arrived on the half-hour, with Dembélé turning provider — sending in a precise cross that Ferran Torres guided over the line. Torres, the current Ballon d’Or holder, nearly secured a first-half treble, but was denied by a combination of Takac and the crossbar, then later sent another shot wide.
Second-Half Flourish Sees PSG Pull Away
It took only 65 seconds after the interval for PSG’s fourth to arrive. Maghnes Akliouce advanced purposefully before finding Torres, who polished off the move with a composed finish into the top corner. Although Mendes thought he had added to the tally moments later — only to see his goal chalked off — PSG did find a fifth soon after, with Torres completing his hat-trick by converting Dembélé’s corner.
Despite the deficit, Suleiman Camara offered Bratislava a brief reprieve, bursting past Illia Zabarnyi to fire a superb shot into the far corner. With victory already secured, PSG’s manager Luis Enrique utilised his substitutes, and Fabian Ruiz capped off the scoring with a late goal — signalling a promising European start, after four winless domestic fixtures.
| Team | Score | Goal Scorers | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | 6 | Ferran Torres (3), Ousmane Dembélé (2), Fabian Ruiz (1) | Luis Enrique |
| Slovan Bratislava | 1 | Suleiman Camara | Yaya Touré |
Managerial Milestone
While Slovan Bratislava faced a daunting challenge, their manager Yaya Touré marked a landmark occasion, becoming the first African to coach in the UEFA Champions League’s group stage. After this difficult opening, Slovan now look ahead to less formidable fixtures in the group.
