Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 9
Champions League Opener Delivers 25 Goals as Torres, Demirovic Hit 2 Hat-Tricks
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 9

Champions League Opener Delivers 25 Goals as Torres, Demirovic Hit 2 Hat-Tricks

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 9

Summary

  • Six Matchday 1 games produced 25 goals, led by PSG’s 6-1 rout of Slovan Bratislava and Barcelona’s 5-1 win over Feyenoord.
  • Ferran Torres marked his Champions League debut for PSG with 3 goals, while Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirovic scored a hat-trick in 12 first-half minutes in a 3-1 win over Viking.
  • Ousmane Dembele added 2 goals and 2 assists for defending champions PSG, and Lamine Yamal starred for Barcelona with a goal, 2 assists and a free-kick finish.
  • Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 through Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, while Arsenal won 1-0 at Napoli thanks to Martin Odegaard.
  • The high-scoring start followed goals earlier in the week from Ballon d’Or rivals Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, setting up a crowded race as the league phase continues Thursday.

Insights

With Yamal and Dembele dominating Matchday 1, who are the hidden Ballon d'Or contenders the media is ignoring?
How will the immense pressure of early Ballon d'Or hype impact Lamine Yamal's record-breaking trajectory this season?
Did Demirovic's historic 12-minute hat-trick expose severe tactical flaws in Viking's defense, or was it pure attacking genius?