Champions League opening night delivers goals and standout performances
PSG cruised to a 6-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava, with Ferran Torres scoring a hat-trick and Ousmane Dembele contributing two goals and two assists. Barcelona beat Feyenoord 5-1, while Liverpool and Arsenal both secured narrow wins. Stuttgart's Ermedin Demirovic also netted a 12-minute hat-trick in their 3-1 win over Viking.
Slovan Bratislava, managed by former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, were overwhelmed in Paris. Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente, who named his dog after Liverpool, opened the scoring, but Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister secured Andoni Iraola's first Champions League victory for the Reds.
Barcelona's Raphinha excelled as a central striker, scoring twice, while teenager Lamine Yamal contributed two assists, a free-kick goal, and a backheeled nutmeg while wearing the captain's armband. Arsenal's Martin Odegaard continued his scoring streak, and Sporting CP also won. Torres's hat-trick followed his World Cup final-winning goal in July.
The opening night's high-scoring matches and individual brilliance could intensify public debate over the Ballon d'Or, potentially boosting viewership and fan engagement across Europe. The lopsided results may also highlight the competitive disparity between elite clubs and smaller leagues, prompting discussions about the new league phase format's fairness and its impact on the sport's global appeal.