This Wednesday evening, Paris Saint-Germain secured a 6-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava in the opening matchday of the 2026-2027 Champions League at the Parc des Princes. Here is a look at the highs and lows of this win.
The Highs
❤️ Akliouche and Dro shed the “backup” label
Akliouche constantly took on defenders and played the ball forward. His involvement in the fourth goal summed up his evening: picking up the ball in his own half, beating two opponents, and then delivering a precise pass to Torres. The only thing missing was a goal of his own—he came agonizingly close just seconds after the scoreline hit 5-0.
Starting at just 18 years old, Dro won the ball high up the pitch and played a key role in the build-up to the second goal before delivering the cross. Another dangerous ball into the box from him preceded Fabian Ruiz’s goal. “More than just a substitute,” for sure.
Their freedom was also facilitated by highly attacking full-backs. Nuno Mendes set the opening goal in motion with a volley that struck the post, while Hakimi provided a constant outlet on the right flank. Paris finally had movement all over the pitch.
Ferran Torres: a European debut in three acts
In his Champions League debut for PSG, Ferran Torres netted a hat-trick between the 31st and 57th minutes. Three goals, three different styles: a finish from a Dembélé cross, a curling shot following Akliouche’s brilliant run, and an instinctive finish from a corner.
The Spaniard attacked the spaces with precision. Above all, he provided exactly what PSG had been missing in their early domestic outings: a finisher capable of turning dominance into goals.
Dembélé switched back into Champions League mode
It took Ousmane Dembélé just six minutes to turn the tide of the match. Showing opportunism after Nuno Mendes hit the post in the 17th minute, he doubled the lead with a header from a deflected Dro cross in the 23rd. He then set up Torres for the 3-0 goal and took the corner that led to the fifth.
- Two goals before the 24th minute.
- Ten shots and 2.07 xG.
- Involved in four of the first five goals.
Substituted in the 64th minute, Dembélé had already put the game to bed. Mobile and unpredictable, he dictated the tempo of the evening.
The lows
😡 Zabarnyi: the duel that spoiled his performance
The Ukrainian’s evening wasn’t going badly until the 58th minute. But against Suleiman Camara, he was too passive: hesitating, dropping back, and allowing Camara to accelerate down the outside and open up a shooting angle. Camara finished beautifully, but Zabarnyi had allowed him to build the attack.
Yet ESPN credited him with seven defensive interventions—the highest total for a PSG player. A single clear error didn’t turn his match into a disaster; it simply served as a reminder that one poorly handled duel is enough to tarnish a performance.
Clean sheet lost in a minute
Torres had just scored the 5-0 goal in the 57th minute when Paris conceded in the 58th. This immediate turnaround points to a collective lapse in concentration: the defensive shape opened up, help never arrived, and Camara cut across the flank without being closed down.
Bratislava managed four shots on target, forcing Safonov to make three saves. With PSG holding 72% possession and conceding only 0.64 xG, the threat remained limited. That is precisely why this avoidable goal stands out as a blemish.
Bratislava doesn’t yet provide a clean bill of health
After four winless matches, PSG needed a victory—and they delivered one in spectacular fashion. However, Slovan conceded 35 shots, allowed 57 touches by PSG players inside their own penalty area, and required eight saves from their goalkeeper. The gulf in class was immense.
This commanding performance restores confidence and finally rewards the team’s attacking output. It does not yet prove that the flaws observed against Rennes, Lille, or Monaco have vanished. Upcoming big matches will reveal whether Paris has truly recovered.
