PSG 6-1 Slovan Bratislava: PSG thrash Bratislava in opening game whilst Yaya Touré makes history

The Parisians ran away with tonight's opening Champions League clash, putting six past Slovan Bratislava as the home side began their defense of the trophy.

Paris Saint-Germain came into their Champions League opener desperately hoping for a spark to kick-start their season.

After a poor start to the domestic campaign, the reigning European champions finally rediscovered some of the swagger and ruthlessness that have defined their rise to the summit of European football.

A 6-1 win, with a hat-trick for new signing Ferran Torres, a brace for Ballon D’or winner Ousmane Dembele, and a late goal for Fabian Ruiz, showed that Luis Enrique had got the machine moving again.

However, for Yaya Tourés men, the occasion carried significance far beyond the result, with Suleiman Camara’s strike a late consolation.

PSG Begin to Look Like Themselves Again

From the opening exchanges, PSG imposed themselves, dominating possession and intricately and seamlessly cutting apart Slovan’s defence.

Slovan arrived knowing they would have to suffer without possession, but containing the movement and technical quality of Enrique’s side quickly became an exhausting task.

The breakthrough eventually arrived through Ousmane Dembélé after 17 minutes.

Six minutes later, he struck again.

It was the type of devastating spell PSG have built their European reputation upon. Once they smell vulnerability, the pressure rarely stops.

Dembélé brought the chaos and unpredictability, while PSG continued to suffocate Slovan through sustained possession and constant attacks.

Ferran Torres then added another before the interval, putting PSG firmly in control on his debut for PSG in the Champions League.

The half-time break did little to disrupt PSG’s ruthless rhythm.

Torres struck almost immediately after the restart before completing his hat-trick ten minutes later, putting the finishing touches on a superb individual performance.

The story was bigger than one player.

Yet Touré’s side refused to completely disappear from the occasion.

Maddy Camara responded almost immediately after Torres completed his hat-trick, giving the travelling support something to celebrate and rewarding Slovan for continuing to compete despite the difficulty of the assignment.

Fabián Ruiz eventually added PSG’s final goal late on, completing a commanding European performance.

The former Ivory Coast midfielder became the first African head coach to manage in the Champions League league phase, a trailblazer.

His introduction could hardly have been more unforgiving.

The Parc des Princes.

The reigning European champions.

A PSG side desperate to rediscover its confidence.

The significance of Touré standing on that touchline should not be lost within the result.

African footballers have shaped the history of European football for generations.

Touré himself was part of that rise, reaching the summit of the game during an illustrious playing career.

Now he is attempting to carve out another pathway.

This time from the dugout.

Dembélé looked dangerous, Torres was ruthless, PSG controlled proceedings and finally played with the authority expected of the reigning European champions.

It does not erase their horrendous start to the season.

Perhaps Europe is exactly where PSG needed to be.

Sometimes a struggling champion needs to return home, where it feels most natural, to remind them who they are.

PSG entered the night searching for answers; they leave with their first victory and some of their swagger restored.

Slovan leave with lessons to learn.

Yaya Touré leaves having taken another step through a door no African coach had previously opened.