Paris Saint-Germain launched their quest for a third consecutive Champions League title with a commanding 6-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday. The match was defined by a standout performance from Ousmane Dembele, who netted the opening two goals and provided two assists for teammate Ferran Torres, who marked his European debut for the club with a hat-trick. Fabian Ruiz also contributed to the scoreline for the hosts.
PSG manager Luis Enrique was effusive in his praise for Dembele, describing his display as “marvellous.” The coach noted that the French forward, who has been managed carefully this season to regain fitness following the World Cup, performed at an elite level. “That was the Ousmane that we all know and that we have seen over the last three years,” Enrique said, highlighting the player’s ability to create opportunities and press effectively.
Despite the lopsided result, Enrique opted to keep key attackers Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue on the bench. The manager emphasized the depth of his squad, noting that 10 PSG players are currently among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or. “For me, Kvara could win the Ballon d’Or, as could Dembele and others,” Enrique remarked.
The match also served as a significant milestone for Slovan Bratislava coach Yaya Toure, who became the first African manager to lead a team in Europe’s premier club competition. Toure, who took charge of the Slovak side during the off-season, acknowledged the vast disparity between the two clubs. “For me, Paris are going to be close to winning the trophy again,” Toure stated. “My players gave their best, but it wasn’t easy. They are exceptional.”
Toure admitted that containing Dembele was a tactical impossibility. “I can’t put four men on Dembele. I want my team to play too, and they did all they could,” he said, jokingly adding that while Dembele had been quiet in recent outings, he was operating at “200 percent” against his side.
Enrique offered support to his counterpart, praising the way Slovan Bratislava attempted to play despite the difficulty of facing the defending champions away from home. “It is difficult for any opponent, but he has the quality to be a great manager,” Enrique said of Toure.
For the Slovak side, the heavy defeat served as a stark lesson in the realities of elite European football. Toure noted that his squad has only been working together for a few months and that the experience would ultimately help them grow. “There is a considerable gap between the sides, but this will help us to get better,” he concluded. The report also notes that “I was disappointed today because Ousmane hasn’t looked at his best in the last few games, but tonight he was at 200 percent,” he joked. The report also notes that “I have been working with these players for just a few months, and now they understand how good the very best teams are.
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