It was a day with scoring from start to finish as Tuesday's Champions League action saw hat tricks and goals galore. Ferran Torres marked his first Champions League start for PSG with his first hat trick for the club, alongside Ousmane Dembele scoring a brace in a 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava. PSG look to become the first club since Real Madrid, between 2015 and 2018, to win three consecutive Champions League titles, and this is a strong start to begin that push. You wouldn't think that they haven't won in Ligue 1 yet this season, but Luis Enrique knows that he can rotate his squad heavily while focusing on European play.
Stuttgart's Ermedin Demeriovic also secured a first-half hat trick over UCL debutants Viking in a 3-1 victory for the German side while Barcelona's strong scoring continued. Hansi Flick's men won 5-1 over Feyenoord, scoring five goals for the third consecutive game. In only the fifth game played of the season, it's the fourth time that they've scored five goals as Raphinha led the side with a brace and Lamine Yamal chipped in a goal and an assist of his own.
With Raphinha as a striker, Barcelona are among the contenders for a Champions League title, but Arsenal are still lurking after coming in as runners-up last season. The Gunners left it late, but eventually Martin Odegaard got the winner against Napoli as their defense led the way. Year after year, they've shown the fortitude to get results, and they'll still continue to be a tough out in this competition. Liverpool were also able to secure their first home victory under Andoni Iraola, and with back-to-back wins, the tide could be shifting for the Reds.
Only two days into Champions League action, and all of the top teams have done what you would've expected them to. Manchester City's midfield took the life out of their win over Porto, and Arsenal found a way to win a tough match over Napoli. Liverpool put some of their defensive issues in the rearview mirror and took care of Atletico Madrid while Barcelona and PSG put up crooked numbers in their games.
In the new Champions League format, it is clear how important a top eight finish is in the league phase, as it provides teams with much-needed rest and a direct place in the round of 16. Because of that, even when squads are struggling, it's critical to secure points as quickly as possible to rise up the table. The results so far have shown exactly that as even in tricky games, the favorites are doing what they'd be expected to. Bayern Munich will look to follow tomorrow, but so far, so good.
Two starts for Ronald Araujo at right back, two wins for Liverpool. The Reds didn't keep a clean sheet as Marcos Llorente continued his form against the team, scoring his fifth goal in only three games played at Anfield, but Araujo nabbed an assist while being part of a defense that allowed an xG of less than one in the match. It was a much more balanced build-up from Liverpool, and they also held Atletico Madrid to only four shots within the box despite Julian Alvarez returning to the XI.
Put him alongside Alexander Isak, showing why Liverpool splashed out for him in year two with the club, and this could be the start of a new trend for the club. The matches won't get any easier with Fulham, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Manchester City, and LASK on the horizon, but that's why it's so important for the Reds to get out of their funk to start the season quickly. While it's early, it seems like they're doing just that.
PSG haven't won in domestic play yet this season, and after losing to Monaco over the weekend, while Nuno Mendes was suspended, it was fair to question if this squad had taken a step back from last season. And while all the issues aren't solved, PSG reminded everyone that the club that can take over games is still there behind Ousmane Dembele. The French forward had a brace of goals and a brace of assists, while Ferran Torres stole the show with a hat trick of his own. It wasn't the toughest competition that they'd face, being pitted against Slovan Bratislava, but you can only face the team put in front of you, and despite rotation, like Dro Fernandez coming into midfield, PSG controlled the match from start to finish.
It would be understandable if PSG took their feet off the gas after winning back-to-back Champions League titles, but instead, this was a message that these are the reigning champions of Europe and they aren't done yet. With three points on the board, it's just about keeping the momentum going.
The favorites took care of business in their matches, and while PSG hung a crooked number on Slovan Bratislava, there were impressive matches all around on Wednesday's matches, which saw a whopping 25 total goals scored across six matches played. Two hat tricks were also scored, and to the surprise of no one, Arsenal were the only team to keep a clean sheet in the day's action.
This time it's Fabian Ruiz to bring PSG to six goals. You wouldn't know that this team doesn't have a domestic win yet.
Martin Odegaard keeps his strong form going and he may have needed help from the post to put it in the back of the net, but this could be the go ahead goal for Arsenal in this one.
Every game has multiple goals, and despite Arsenal having an xG of more than 2 so far in the game, they've yet to put the ball in the back of the net as that match is level through 64 minutes played.
Ferran Torres gets his third of the game and his fifth total goal for PSG after moving from Barcelona to PSG. Now Dembele only needs one goal himself to make it two hat tricks for PSG. Slovan did get a goal back of their own, but with six goals in under 60 minutes, this game is on record watch.
Another midfielder finds the back of the net, and it's an outside-the-box finish from Alexis Mac Allister. Liverpool are closer than ever to the first home win for Liverpool under Iraola this season. It was quite a hit when the ball was poked to him on the edge of the box.
The second halves are underway as all of the games are level except PSG facing Slovan. And right out of the gate, PSG have gotten another as Ferran Torres joins Ousmane Dembele with a brace.
There aren't enough words to describe just how important Dominik Szoboszlai has been to Liverpool. Right before half, the Hungarian has brought the Reds level in the match as they look to get their first home victory under Andoni Iraola this season.
Someone saw Barcelona and said that they could do better. This time it's Ferran Torres who scored, and PSG leads 3-0 after 30 minutes. Slovan Bratislava can't keep up. Of course, Dembele had to still be involved in the goal, getting an assist to go alongside his two goals already.
That's two goals for Dembele in only 23 minutes, and we're off and running in Paris.
Slovan Bratislava almost made it 20 minutes without conceding, but you can only withstand PSG for so long. Ousmane Dembele has scored, and PSG's road to three consecutive Champions League titles is off and running.
The Atleti forward may not have scored, but he helped his team strike first to take the lead over Liverpool 18 minutes into the match. It's an assist on Marcos Llorente's opening goal, and Liverpool trails.
Galatasaray have struck first in their away trip to Portugal, facing Sporting CP as Lucas Torreira puts them ahead only six minutes into the match.
With Arsenal, Liverpool, Atleti, and Paris Saint-Germain all in action, we're going to be spoiled for choice in these matches.
Barcelona have rolled yet again, starting off the league phase with an almost perfect start, winning 5-1 while Stuttgart also rolled. Getting a 3-1 lead in the first half was all the German side needed to get off and running as Ermedin Demirovic netted a hat trick. It'll be an uphill climb for UCL debutants Viking after this one.
With his first touch of the ball, Gabriel Jesus scores, and Barcelona have scored five goals for the third consecutive game and the fourth time this season. This attack is a well-oiled machine under Hansi Flick, just absurd stuff.
This goal has been coming as Barcelona loses their clean sheet on some sloppy defending late. To respond, Gabriel Jesus and Gavi will enter the match.
What a day for Barcelona as they find their fourth goal of the match. Lamine Yamal hits a free kick through the Feyenoord wall as they part while jumping to allow him to go right down the middle. That's now 21 goals in five games for Barcelona, and they aren't done yet.
Warning signs as Feyenoord aren't going down without a fight as Nacho pounces on some chaos in the box and puts it in the back of the net for the Dutch side. It was chalked off following a VAR review, meaning Barcelona still has a three-goal advantage, but they won't be happy with conceding that one.
It's a second goal for Raphinha after Pedri slices the Feyenoord defense. This is unreal stuff for the Brazilian as he cannot be stopped scoring his eighth goal in all competitions this season in only five appearances.
Player to watch: Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal: Back in his homeland, Calafiori arrives in Naples garlanded with praise for his early season impact, which includes assists against both Coventry City and Aston Villa. "Far and away the best left back in the Premier League," said Jamie Carragher of the 24-year-old. There's no exaggeration there. -- James Benge
Man of the match: Christos Tzolis, Arsenal: The Greek winger has been one of the surprises of the first part of the season as he shined in the opening games, already delivering three assists in the four matches he played so far in all competitions. The Champions League offers him another opportunity to showcase his qualities, although doing so against Napoli away at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona will be a major challenge. The Azzurri conceded too much space in the second half of their 3-2 defeat to Inter at San Siro, highlighting how Massimiliano Allegri's new cycle is still very much in its early stages. -- Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Napoli 0, Arsenal 2: Arsenal know exactly who they are, to the point that most teams will be hard-pressed to find a winning strategy when they play against them. The Gunners, though, return to the Champions League with a newfound confidence, which will undoubtedly be on display when they return to European play with full intention to win a prize that has long eluded them. For the time being, there's no betting against them, so expect an unfrivolous start to their campaign. -- Pardeep Cattry
Best bet: Both teams to score (-126): You could tell me that almost anything would happen in this game, especially with Scott McTominay being unavailable for Napoli, but both teams will have their attacking chances. Arsenal have been clinical when they've gotten their chances on the ball but Napoli still has Kevin De Bruyne roaming to make things happen from deep in what'll be a game worth keeping an eye on. -- Charles Booth
Julian Alvarez is handed his first Atletico Madrid start of the season. After the transfer saga with Barcelona has come to an end for now, Alvarez is back leading the line on this trip to Anfield. He'll be across from Bradley Barcola, also being handed his first start for Liverpool as Cody Gakpo misses out for the Reds.
Feyenoord have made the only change with Oussama Targhalline coming into the XI to try and turn this game around.
It's quite a fast start here with six goals across the two games by halftime and they don't show any signs of slowing down. Demirovic's hat trick for Stuttgart is the star of the first half but Raphina will also try to catch up. Look at this start for the German side:
Viking may want this game to slow down a bit as Demirovic has now scored his third goal for Stuttgart. The German side has only taken five shots in the game, but this is peak efficiency from their striker to put them ahead in the match.
Barcelona have doubled their lead via Karim Adeyemi and kept things going in the match, while Demirovic has also nabbed a second goal for Stuttgart. What a start to action!
Only two minutes later, Viking hits back, and it's their talisman Zlatko Tripic. We've got a game here.
It was a good start to the match from Viking, but Ermedin Demirovic was able to make them pay from close range, and the German side leads after 20 minutes.
