Champions League briefing: Ballon d’Or contenders dazzle, a 12-minute hat-trick and a two-man canoe
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The Champions League group stage saw six matches produce a total of 25 goals, highlighted by two hat-tricks, including Ferran Torres' three goals for PSG in their 6-1 win over Slovan Bratislava.
- Barcelona continued their prolific scoring form with a 5-1 victory against Feyenoord, featuring standout performances from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, while Arsenal secured a 1-0 win over Napoli thanks to Martin Odegaard's goal.
- Liverpool overturned an early deficit to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring a remarkable goal with his "weaker" left foot, despite contract uncertainties.
- Ermedin Demirovic scored a rapid first-half hat-trick for Stuttgart in their 3-1 win over Viking, marking one of the fastest hat-tricks in Champions League history.
- The night also featured discussions around Ballon d’Or contenders, with Yamal, Dembele, and Torres showcasing their talents, while Dembele highlighted teammates Mbappe, Kvaratskhelia, and Kane as top award candidates.
