Big Names Dominate Champions League Opener

Paris Saint-Germain have begun their pursuit of a historic third consecutive Champions League title with a commanding victory, as Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday.

The reigning champions produced a dominant display at the Parc des Princes, with Ousmane Dembele also scoring twice before Fabian Ruiz completed the rout. Suleiman Camara scored a consolation goal for Slovan, but PSG had already secured a comfortable opening result.

PSG are aiming to become only the fourth club in history to win three European Cups in succession. Their next Champions League fixtures will see them face Manchester City before hosting Barcelona.

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Liverpool also opened their campaign with a comeback victory, defeating Atletico Madrid 2-1 at Anfield to secure back-to-back wins under new manager Andoni Iraola.

Atletico took the lead in the 17th minute when Marcos Llorente finished after Julian Alvarez created the opportunity. Llorente continued his impressive record at Anfield, having scored five goals across his last three visits to the stadium.

Liverpool responded before half-time through Dominik Szoboszlai, who converted after Ronald Araujo’s clever backheel assist. Alexis Mac Allister then put the hosts ahead early in the second half with a powerful strike from outside the box.

Reflecting on his first Champions League match as Liverpool manager, Iraola praised the atmosphere at Anfield.

“I’ve loved it. The atmosphere has been incredible and I feel lucky, lucky to experience it,” he said.

UCL — Paris Saint-Germain’s supporters hold a banner reading “Ultras” as they cheer during the UEFA Champions League, league phase, matchday 1, football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Slovan Bratislava at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Arsenal also secured an important away victory, beating Napoli 1-0 at the Stadio Armando Diego Maradona. After missing several chances, the English champions found the breakthrough through Martin Odegaard, whose 75th-minute strike went in off the post after a neat combination with Christos Tzolis.

Barcelona made an emphatic start to their campaign with a 5-1 victory over Feyenoord. Raphinha continued his impressive form by scoring twice, while Karim Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal and Gabriel Jesus also found the net.

Elsewhere, Stuttgart defeated Norwegian champions Viking 3-1, with Ermedin Demirovic scoring a first-half hat-trick, while Sporting Lisbon came from behind to beat Galatasaray 3-1.

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Tope Oke

Temitope is a storyteller driven by a passion for the intricate world of geopolitics, the raw beauty of wildlife, and the dynamic spirit of sports. As both a writer and editor, he excels at crafting insightful and impactful narratives that not only inform but also inspire and advocate for positive change. Through his work, he aims to shed light on complex issues, celebrate diverse perspectives, and encourage readers to engage with the world around them in a more meaningful way.