Paris Saint-Germain began their UEFA Champions League league-phase campaign in emphatic fashion, dismantling Slovan Bratislava 6-1 at Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
Ousmane Dembélé struck twice inside the opening 23 minutes before Ferran Torres completed a superb hat-trick, as PSG’s relentless attacking pressure proved far too much for the Slovak visitors. Fabián Ruiz added a late sixth, while Suleiman Camara’s 58th-minute effort provided Slovan with a brief consolation.
PSG take control before the interval
The home side quickly established territorial dominance and turned that control into goals. Dembélé opened the scoring in the 17th minute, then doubled PSG’s advantage with a header six minutes later, putting Slovan under severe pressure.
Torres made it 3-0 in the 31st minute to cap a first half that belonged entirely to Paris. PSG went into the break with a three-goal lead and had limited Slovan to little possession or attacking momentum.
Torres completes hat-trick in ruthless second half
Any prospect of a Slovan recovery disappeared soon after the restart. Torres scored again in the 47th minute, extending PSG’s lead with the second half barely underway. The forward then completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute, finishing a devastating spell in front of goal.
Slovan responded immediately through Camara in the 58th minute, giving their travelling support something to celebrate. But the goal did little to alter the pattern of the match, with PSG continuing to dictate the tempo and pin their opponents back.
Ruiz completed the rout in the 87th minute, applying the final touch to a dominant European display.
Numbers underline Paris dominance
PSG controlled 72.1% of possession and produced 35 shots, with 14 on target. Slovan managed nine attempts and four efforts on target, but spent long stretches defending deep against wave after wave of Paris attacks.
Dembélé’s goals in the 17th and 23rd minutes set the platform, while Torres stole the spotlight with strikes in the 31st, 47th and 57th minutes. Camara scored for Slovan in the 58th minute before Ruiz wrapped up the 6-1 result in the 87th minute.
It was an authoritative opening statement from PSG in the Champions League, with their attack clicking from the first whistle and their league-phase campaign off to the ideal start.
