Champions League Recap: PSG and Barcelona Run Riot, Goals Still Flowing
10 Sep, 2026
- ⚽ PSG and Barcelona scored 11 goals between them, launching their campaigns with emphatic home victories
- 🎩 Ferran Torres and Ermedin Demirović both claimed hat-tricks on a night dominated by ruthless finishing
- 🔴 Liverpool completed a comeback against Atlético Madrid, while Martin Ødegaard rescued Arsenal in Naples
The Champions League’s opening week delivered another reminder that Europe’s biggest clubs have little interest in easing themselves into the new season. PSG and Barcelona treated their first assignments like shooting practice, while Liverpool and Arsenal were forced to earn their victories the hard way.
Wednesday’s six matches produced 21 goals, two hat-tricks and victories for all six home favourites or established heavyweights. Some collected three points with a sledgehammer, others needed a late moment of quality, but there were no major upsets to spoil the party, meaning that those who bet on the underdogs in Roshtein’s Champions League Guessing Game were out of luck.
PSG 6-1 Slovan Bratislava
The defending champions began with all the restraint of a firework factory. Ousmane Dembélé scored twice before new signing Ferran Torres completed a hat-trick, helping PSG race into a 5-0 lead after only 57 minutes.
Suleiman Camara grabbed a consolation for Slovan Bratislava, but Fabián Ruiz restored the five-goal margin shortly before full time. PSG may have looked slightly rusty domestically, but their European machine immediately clicked back into gear.
Barcelona 5-1 Feyenoord
Barcelona responded to PSG’s statement with one of their own, dismantling Feyenoord at Camp Nou. Raphinha scored twice, while Karim Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal and Gabriel Jesus also joined the celebration.
Feyenoord briefly threatened and saw a goal disallowed for offside before Sem Steijn eventually found their consolation. However, Barça’s attacking quality was simply overwhelming, with Yamal providing both creativity and a beautifully placed free-kick.
Liverpool 2-1 Atlético Madrid
Anfield received an early shock when Marcos Llorente scored in the 16th minute, continuing his remarkable habit of causing Liverpool problems. The Reds recovered before half-time through Dominik Szoboszlai, whose equaliser followed an inventive backheel from Ronald Araújo.
Alexis Mac Allister completed the comeback early in the second half, drilling home from outside the penalty area. Atlético pushed for an equaliser and Jan Oblak kept the score respectable, while Liverpool had a late goal disallowed, but the hosts held on to give new manager Andoni Iraola a winning Champions League debut.
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Napoli 0-1 Arsenal
Last season’s finalists encountered considerably more resistance in Naples. Napoli kept Arsenal quiet for long periods, turning the evening into a tactical arm wrestle rather than another opening-night goal festival.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the second half when substitutes Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimarães helped create the opening for Martin Ødegaard. Arsenal’s captain supplied the finish, scoring his fourth goal in five matches and delivering three valuable away points.
Sporting CP 3-1 Galatasaray
Sporting’s evening began disastrously as an own goal handed Galatasaray the lead after only five minutes. The Turkish champions controlled much of the first half, despite arriving in Lisbon without several important players, including Victor Osimhen.
The match turned after the interval. Geny Catamo equalised, Luis Suárez converted a penalty and Rodrigo Zalazar sealed the comeback with a superb free-kick, allowing Sporting to turn an awkward start into a convincing victory.
Stuttgart 3-1 Viking
Ferran Torres was not the only player taking home a match ball. Ermedin Demirović scored three times in just 12 first-half minutes, striking in the 20th, 26th and 32nd minutes as Stuttgart overwhelmed Viking Stavanger.
Zlatko Tripić briefly equalised between Demirović’s first and second goals, but that moment of hope disappeared almost immediately. Deniz Undav provided two assists as Stuttgart celebrated their return to the Champions League after 588 days with a comfortable victory.
What Comes Next?
Wednesday belonged to the favourites, but they arrived at victory by very different routes. PSG and Barcelona flattened their opponents, Stuttgart discovered a hat-trick hero, while Liverpool and Arsenal showed that patience and resilience can be just as valuable as attacking fireworks.
The opening matchday of Champions League continues on Thursday, with Manchester United facing Azerbaijani newcomers Sabah among the remaining fixtures. After 21 goals and two match balls on Wednesday, the final group of teams has been handed a difficult act to follow.
