Ferran Torres fires hat-trick as PSG begin Champions League title defence with rout | OneFootball

New signing Ferran Torres struck a hat-trick as holders Paris Saint-Germain made an emphatic start to the defence of their Champions League crown with a 6-1 home victory over Slovan Bratislava.

Ousmane Dembele scored twice before World Cup winner Torres struck three in succession as PSG romped to a routine win over ⁠the Slovak side, coached by former Champions League winner Yaya Toure.

The Parisians, chasing a third successive Champions League title, were 5-0 up inside 57 minutes, before Suleiman Camara pulled one back. Fabian Ruiz scored their sixth two minutes from time as the French champions showed none of the rustiness that has characterised their early-season domestic league form.

There was also success for Portuguese side Sporting, who overturned a fifth-minute deficit to defeat Galatasaray 3-1 in Lisbon.

Galatasaray took an early lead through Goncalo Inacio’s own goal but Geny Catamo equalised for Sporting in the 27th minute amid some poor defending by the Turkish side. Luis Suarez converted a 57th-minute penalty to put Sporting ahead and a blistering free kick from Rodrigo Zalazar six minutes later sealed the win.

Earlier on Wednesday, Barcelona captain Raphinha scored twice as his side thrashed Feyenoord 5-1. Karim Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal and Gabriel Jesus were the other home scorers in a rain-soaked Barcelona while Sem Steijn got the Dutch club’s consolation goal.

“There is a long way to go until (the ​end of the season in) May, but it is true that things look very good because we are training ‌very hard and everyone is hungry,” said Barcelona coach ⁠Hansi Flick.

open image in gallery

Raphinha helped Barcelona to an impressive win (Reuters)

Meanwhile, Ermedin Demirovic struck a 12-minute first-half hat-trick to give VfB Stuttgart a 3-1 home victory over Viking Stavanger.

Demirovic opened the scoring after 20 minutes with a touch at the near post but Viking, making their first appearance in the group phase, were level two minutes later when Zlatko Tripic finished a swift counter-attack with his left foot. Demirovic quickly ‌re-established the lead in the 26th ​minute and then completed the hat-trick with a hooked volley six ‌minutes later.

Another six fixtures are scheduled for Thursday, including three-time European champions Manchester United at home to Azeri debutants Sabah, who came through four preliminary rounds of knockout matches to reach the group phase.