PSG rout Slovan Bratislava to launch Champions League campaign

Ferran Torres hit a hat trick and Ousmane Dembélé scored twice on Wednesday night as Paris Saint-Germain crushed Slovan Bratislava 6-1 to launch the defence of their Champions League title. Issued on: 09/09/2026 - 23:30 2 min Reading time On the eve of the game at the Parc des Princes, the PSG boss Luis Enrique warned his trophy-winning players to forget their back-to-back triumphs in the tournament and concentrate on achieving new highs. His entreaty came on the same afternoon as 11 members of the PSG squad – including the 2025 winner Dembélé – were nominated for various prizes at the Ballon d'Or competition. Fittingly, Dembélé opened the scoring after 15 minutes. The 29-year-old France international gathered the rebound from Nuno Mendes' shot which had hit the goal post and slotted past the Slovan goalkeeper Dominik Takac. Moments afterwards, Dembélé was sent clear down the left wing but he lifted the ball over the diving Takac but just past the post. He atoned for his error eight minutes later. Dro Fernandez's shot took a deflection off Sandro Cruz and sat up invitingly for Dembélé to nod the ball home. Goalscorer turns provider On the half hour mark, the poacher turned provider. Dembélé lofted a cross over from the right wing and Torres nipped in front of Takac to poke the ball into the net for PSG's third goal. Between the goals, Dembélé hit a shot past the post and another over the crossbar. Achraf Hakimi joined in the wastefulness with a strike off target. Torres, who fired in Spain's winner in the 2026 World Cup final against Argentina scored his second just after the restart. Magnes Akliouche surged down the right wing and into the penalty area before passing to Torres who swept the ball past Takac into the top right hand corner of the goal. Champions League kicks off with Lille, Lens eyeing PSG's crown While his second was composed, Torres' third in the 52nd minute was almost slapstick in comparison. The 26-year-old, one of the Ballon d'Or nominees for his exploits last season with Barcelona and at the 2026 World Cup, mistimed his kick but the ball cannoned off his knee past Takac into the goal for his first hat trick since moving to the Parc des Princes. Suleiman Camara salvaged some pride for the visitors in the 59th minute to make it 5-1. But PSG had the last word. Fabian Ruiz, another of the PSG squad on the Ballon d'Or list, nudged in the sixth in the 88th minute. In other games on Wednesday night in the competition, Barcelona hammered Feyenoord 5-1 and last year's beaten finalists Arsenal won 1-0 in Napoli. There were also victories for Liverpool, Sporting Portugal and Stuttgart. On Thursday, Lens, France's third side in the Champions League, start their campaign at Slavia Prague. On Tuesday night, Lille lost their opening game 3-2 at home to Real Betis.