PLAYER RATINGS | PSG 6-1 Slovan Bratislava: reigning champions get Champions League defence underway with resounding win over Yaya Touré’s side

PLAYER RATINGS | PSG 6-1 Slovan Bratislava: reigning champions get Champions League defence underway with resounding win over Yaya Touré’s side UEFA Champions League, Matchday 1, 09/09/26 Ferran Torres netted a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain got their UEFA Champions League defence underway with a comfortable win against Slovan Bratislava (6-1). The Match The tone was set when Dro Fernandez found himself one-on-one in just the third minute. The Spaniard couldn’t finish, but this wasn’t a night where chances were at a premium. Struggling in Ligue 1 with just two points from their first three games, the three points were hardly ever in doubt for PSG here. Ousmane Dembélé opened the proceedings. The Ballon d’Or winner was in the right place when Nuno Mendes’ effort cannoned off the post right into his path. Dembélé’s first touch wasn’t perfect, but he then picked out the lopping ball to half-volley Dominik Takac. The Slovak goalkeeper would be kept very busy, with the reigning European champions getting 21 shots away in the first half alone. Takac won his one-on-one with Dembélé moments later. The goalkeeper closed the angle, forcing the PSG forward into a chip that would dribble wide. Maghnes Akliouche, still in search of his first goal for his new club, curled wide before Dembélé doubled his account. The France international was once again well placed, this time getting on the end of a deflected Dro cross to head in from close range. Ferran Torres then needed a sighter to find his range. He curled a shot just inches wide but then seconds later was picked out by Dembélé in the box. The World Cup winner volleyed home at the near post. Having already netted on his Ligue 1 debut, he has now also netted in his first UCL game in a PSG shirt. The two goalscorers combined and also made it four before the break. The ball over the top was headed across goal by Torres, Dembélé, five yards out and unmarked, made good contact but Takac got a crucial touch to send the ball vertical and onto the underside of the bar. The half-time whistle brought respite for Slovan Bratislava, but nothing more. As it sounded again for the second half, the barrage resumed and just over 60 seconds later, Les Parisiens had their fourth. It was Torres again with a curled effort from the edge of the box, but this goal was all about the assist from Akliouche, who dribbled and danced his way around the Slovak defence before teeing up the Spaniard. Torres then completed his hat-trick with an unconventional half volley from a Dembélé corner. Suleiman Camara pulled one back for the Slovaks, drifting inside and past Illia Zabarnyi before beating Matvey Safonov. The victory secured, PSG brought off their stars on the night and the rhythm of the game suffered as a result. Mistakes crept in from the hosts but went unpunished; those made by the visitors were and Slovan’s failure to clear created a game of pinball inside their own box, which was brought to an end by a Fabian Ruiz volley into the bottom corner. PSG’s UCL defence is well underway. On this showing, Yaya Touré’s Slavan may struggle, but it isn’t every day that you come up against the European champions. PSG player ratings Matvey Safonov – 5 Nuno Mendes – 7 Nuno Mendes has not featured in Ligue 1 this season due to a red card in the Trophée des Champions. As he raced down the line, he looked like a man in a hurry to make up for lost time. The offside flag, the post, and a fine Takac save prevented him from getting on the scoresheet, but his contribution was valuable regardless. Willian Pacho – 6 Illia Zabarnyi – 4 Achraf Hakimi – 6 Fabián Ruiz – 7 Vitinha – 6 Dro Fernandez – 7 Ferran Torres – 9 The former Barcelona man needed one shot to find his range and was then ruthless thereafter. Positioned out left, he looked more dangerous when given the freedom to drift inside. Two of the finishes were proper fox-in-the-box, the other a neatly curled effort. He looks very capable of sharing the burden of getting the goals for PSG in a way that Goncal Ramos never really was. Ousmane Dembélé – 9 The France international’s minutes have been managed at the start of the season, and given his injury-hit start to last season, it is sensible. But unlike the start of last season, he has quickly found his form. Dembélé was instinctive – perhaps a bit lucky – but having got into the right positions in the box, he was rewarded and was efficient. He also set up two of Torres’ goals and put through Akliouche, who opted against shooting when one-on-one, despite the lack of teammates around him. The quality of the opponent has to be factored in, but this was a strong performance. Maghnes Akliouche – 4 A slightly timid start to life at the Parc des Princes for the AS Monaco academy product. He had his moment with the piercing run through the defence, which ended in an assist for Torres. But he is lacking confidence when in front of goal, as evidenced by his error in passing into empty space, rather than taking a shot when one-on-one. Slovan Bratislava selected player ratings Suleiman Camara – 6 César Blackman – 3 GFFN | Luke Entwistle