Ousmane Dembele and Ferran Torres combined for five of Paris Saint-Germain's six goals as the pair started together in attack for the first time this season, firing PSG to a comfortable win over Slovan Bratislava in their Champions League opener at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
The pairing put to rest talk that had circulated since the opening weekend of the season, when Dembele was substituted at half-time by Torres away at Rennes and some suggested the World Cup winner's arrival might threaten the Ballon d'Or holder's place in the side. Together against the Slovaks, the two forwards showed they speak the same footballing language.
Dembele strikes first, Torres joins in
Dembele opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Sixteen minutes later, Torres threaded a defence-splitting pass in behind for his teammate, the first real spark of what the two produced together that night.
The pair then combined for Paris's second goal. Coordinated pressing forced a mistake from a Slovan throw-in, the loose ball was picked up by Dro Fernandez, and his blocked shot fell for Dembele, PSG's number 10, to head home from close range in the six-yard box.
Dembele turned provider soon after, splitting the Slovak defence with a pass that only the best strikers know how to time, and Torres finished the move with a difficult close-range half-volley for the goal that put PSG 2-0 up. Minutes later the roles were almost reversed, Torres heading a ball on for Dembele, whose effort was turned onto the crossbar by Slovan goalkeeper Takac.
Torres completes his hat-trick
Torres added his own moment of quality after the break, using an outside-of-the-foot touch and a feint to open up the angle before slotting a low finish home for PSG's fourth goal. He completed his hat-trick from a corner delivered by Dembele, then jumped into his teammate's arms in celebration.
Asked afterwards about Torres's display, coach Luis Enrique set aside the hat-trick and instead praised his forward's work in the counter-press. Dembele has become a key figure in harassing opponents as they try to build from the back for Luis Enrique's side, and it was that same appetite for defensive work that made Torres a priority target for the club at the end of last season.
'What do you want to do against them?'
The result raised an obvious question for opposing coaches this season: how do you stop this pairing? Asked exactly that, former Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure said he did not know, adding, still thinking it over, that whether or not you prepare for the match, players like that are always there when it counts. He said the Frenchman is a Ballon d'Or winner and that he could not put three or four markers on each man, calling it very hard to set anything up against them.
A connection dating back to Barcelona
Speaking in the mixed zone after scoring his first Champions League hat-trick for PSG, Torres said he had always had a good relationship with Dembele, a bond he said existed even during their time together at Barcelona. He described Dembele as a player who makes things easier thanks to spectacular vision, capable of scoring goals or setting them up, and joked that he now had to help Dembele keep producing assists.
Dembele's former Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal had explained during the week that defensive effort and sacrifice are essential for winning titles at the highest level, a point Torres appeared to embody with a hard, clean tackle in the second half performed right in front of his coach.
A selection puzzle for Luis Enrique
The result leaves Luis Enrique with a selection puzzle. He left out Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue for the Slovan Bratislava match, while Maghnes Akliouche has also shown this season that he deserves to be considered. It is the kind of problem most coaches on the continent would envy, and it is now up to Luis Enrique to turn it into a strength as PSG chase the third European title their supporters have long craved.
