Ferran Torres announced himself in spectacular fashion as Paris Saint-Germain began their defence of the UEFA Champions League title with a commanding 6–1 victory over Slovan Bratislava at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
The Spain international marked his Champions League debut for PSG with a hat-trick, while Ousmane Dembélé scored twice and supplied two assists as the reigning European champions overwhelmed the Slovakian visitors.
Fabián Ruiz completed the rout late in the game, while Suleiman Camara scored Slovan’s consolation goal. The result gave PSG an emphatic opening to their pursuit of a third consecutive Champions League crown.
Dembélé set the tone early, scoring twice inside the opening 25 minutes as PSG quickly established complete control. The French forward opened the scoring in the 17th minute before doubling the advantage six minutes later, putting Luis Enrique’s side firmly in command before Torres took centre stage.
Torres struck for the first time in the 31st minute, converting a move created by Dembélé, to send PSG into half-time with a 3–0 lead. The former Barcelona and Manchester City forward then completed his hat-trick after the interval, scoring in the 47th and 56th minutes to turn an already dominant performance into a rout.
Torres’ three-goal display was particularly significant after a relatively quiet beginning to his PSG career. He had arrived at the club with considerable expectations, and his Champions League debut provided an immediate demonstration of his finishing ability.
The hat-trick was also the sixth of Torres’ professional career and his first since joining the Parisian club, giving him an early claim for a major role in PSG’s European campaign.
Slovan managed to pull one goal back through Camara in the 58th minute, but the response was immediate as PSG continued to dominate possession and territory.
Ruiz restored the five-goal advantage late on, completing a 6–1 scoreline that accurately reflected PSG’s superiority throughout the contest.
Luis Enrique Praises Torres’ Impact
Luis Enrique was understandably pleased with Torres’ performance, particularly given the forward’s ability to make an immediate impact on Europe’s biggest club stage. The PSG manager had backed the summer signing to contribute significantly to the team’s attack and praised the quality of his performance after the match.
“He’s a player who can score goals,” Enrique said in his post-match assessment, while emphasising that Torres’ contribution went beyond simply finding the net.
The manager’s reaction reflected the significance of the performance for a PSG side attempting to maintain the standards that brought them their first Champions League crown and subsequently put them in pursuit of an unprecedented third straight European title.
Enrique had entered the Champions League campaign under some pressure following an inconsistent start domestically, with PSG having failed to win their previous four matches in all competitions.
The emphatic victory therefore provided the perfect response on the European stage and underlined why PSG remain among the leading favourites to retain the trophy.
Dembélé and Torres Form Potent Partnership
While Torres understandably dominated the headlines, Dembélé was equally influential. The France international not only scored twice but also created two goals for his teammates, including Torres’ first goal, as PSG’s attacking movement repeatedly exposed gaps in the Slovan defence.
The understanding between the two forwards offered an encouraging sign for Enrique, particularly with PSG seeking to replace the production of key attackers while maintaining the fluid attacking structure that has become central to the team’s identity.
For Torres, meanwhile, the night represented a major personal statement. His three goals came on his first Champions League appearance for PSG and transformed what could have been a routine opening victory into a landmark individual performance.
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