New signing Ferran Torres struck a hat-trick as holders Paris Saint-Germain made an emphatic start to the defence of their Champions League crown with a 6-1 home victory over Slovan Bratislava.

Ousmane Dembele scored twice before World Cup winner Torres struck three in succession as PSG romped to a routine win over ⁠the Slovak side, coached by former Champions League winner Yaya Toure.

The Parisians, chasing a third successive Champions League title, were 5-0 up inside 57 minutes, before Suleiman Camara pulled one back. Fabian Ruiz scored their sixth two minutes from time as the French champions showed none of the rustiness that has characterised their early-season domestic league form.

There was also success for Portuguese side Sporting, who overturned a fifth-minute deficit to defeat Galatasaray 3-1 in Lisbon.

Galatasaray took an early lead through Goncalo Inacio’s own goal but Geny Catamo equalised for Sporting in the 27th minute amid some poor defending by the Turkish side. Luis Suarez converted a 57th-minute penalty to put Sporting ahead and a blistering free kick from Rodrigo Zalazar six minutes later sealed the win.

Earlier on Wednesday, Barcelona captain Raphinha scored twice as his side thrashed Feyenoord 5-1. Karim Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal and Gabriel Jesus were the other home scorers in a rain-soaked Barcelona while Sem Steijn got the Dutch club’s consolation goal.

“There is a long way to go until (the ​end of the season in) May, but it is true that things look very good because we are training ‌very hard and everyone is hungry,” said Barcelona coach ⁠Hansi Flick.

Meanwhile, Ermedin Demirovic struck a 12-minute first-half hat-trick to give VfB Stuttgart a 3-1 home victory over Viking Stavanger.

Demirovic opened the scoring after 20 minutes with a touch at the near post but Viking, making their first appearance in the group phase, were level two minutes later when Zlatko Tripic finished a swift counter-attack with his left foot. Demirovic quickly ‌re-established the lead in the 26th ​minute and then completed the hat-trick with a hooked volley six ‌minutes later.

Another six fixtures are scheduled for Thursday, including three-time European champions Manchester United at home to Azeri debutants Sabah, who came through four preliminary rounds of knockout matches to reach the group phase.

Reuters

If Liverpool made Alexis Mac Allister very, very sad, in his own words, he made Anfield very, very happy here. Andoni Iraola’s introduction to the Champions League was eventful and, eventually, enjoyable. Liverpool beat last season’s semi-finalists with a stunning goal from a World Cup winner. A day after some unexpected revelations, Mac Allister let his football do the talking, and how.

For Iraola, a first European night at Anfield offered an insight into their power. “I loved it – the atmosphere has been incredible,” the Basque said. “We have shown big character.” A comeback victory provided an uplifting end to an evening that still had its unsatisfactory elements. Liverpool’s defending in the first half presented a concern in a game that was frenetic and flawed; fractious at times, too.

Maybe Mac Allister’s relationship with Liverpool has become more awkward. If so, however, they might have benefited from some creative tension. Mac Allister had gone public with his disappointment after Liverpool told him they were not in a position to offer him a new contract. This was the right kind of way to change their minds, with an unstoppable shot, drilled in from 20 yards. That it came from Mac Allister’s less favoured left foot shows the technique the Argentinian possesses. “Lovely goal from Alexis,” said Iraola.

Perhaps, though, it was unsurprising he scored. Mac Allister is shaping up as the scourge of Madrid, a scorer against Real in both 2024 and 2025 and now Atletico in 2026. His name was chorused when he was substituted.

Often outnumbered, Liverpool’s midfield struggled at times but their goals nevertheless came from midfielders. Dominik Szoboszlai was Liverpool’s outstanding player in last year’s Champions League, with five goals and four assists. He offered hope of a similarly productive continental campaign, finding the far corner with a low shot to equalise, following a backheel from Ronald Araujo. “You have to ask him if he meant it,” said Szoboszlai.

It came seconds after Jan Oblak denied Barcola a maiden Liverpool goal; Iraola, with his fondness for vertical football and pressing, was presumably pleased it all stemmed from Milos Kerkez coming forward to win the ball from Kang-in Lee. It was a redemptive moment for the Hungarian, who was culpable for the Atleti goal.

Barcola had come off the bench at Ipswich on Friday. His first start since his £106m move came on the right wing, in Mohamed Salah’s old role. He really ought to have marked it with his first goal, particularly when, four minutes after half-time, Florian Wirtz sent him speeding through the heart of the Atletico defence. But Barcola rolled his shot past the post to highlight questions about his finishing. “He has two very clear chances against the keeper, he didn’t score but I want him there,” said Iraola. The Frenchman went off, cramping up, as he gets back to full sharpness.

By then, Liverpool had made history of sorts with three £100m men on the pitch together; from one move involving all three, Wirtz had a shot saved by Jan Oblak, though his supplier, Alexander Isak, was offside. The Swede had shown Liverpool’s initial attacking intent, unleashing a shot after 16 seconds, when Szoboszlai powered forward.

Yet, once again, they conceded first. “Four games, three times we have come back,” said Iraola. They have needed to, though. Iraola found fault with himself for failing to anticipate Diego Simeone’s 3-5-2 formation. “I think I have to take blame from the beginning because they surprised me a little bit tactically,” he said. “They played a five.” And Liverpool failed to track the Atleti wing-backs, conceding to their unlikely nemesis.

Marcos Llorente has scored 10 Champions League goals and, astonishingly, half have come on Merseyside. The Spaniard called his dog “Anfield” after a brace in 2020. He may be wondering what else to name after Liverpool’s home, because he got an Anfield double last year and now another goal here. “Every footballer has a ground where he scores,” said Iraola.

So Llorente proved. Julian Alvarez provided the defence-splitting pass. Llorente darted beyond Kerkez to supply the assured finish. It was an issue with Iraola’s high defensive line, but also with his erratic left-back.

This was Alvarez’s first start since a summer spent dreaming of a move to Barcelona. The pass indicated why Atleti were so keen to keep him. So, too, was a 25-yard shot that drew a terrific save from Alisson. “Julian was fantastic, he wanted the ball from minute one to minute 90,” said his manager, Diego Simeone.

Atleti were superior during the first 45, but they have second-half problems of late. “In the first half we played well and in the second we didn’t and then you start to commit errors and mistakes and all the effort you put in is just an anecdote,” lamented Simeone.

A September defeat at Anfield last season did not stop Simeone’s side from reaching the last four. For Liverpool, first and third in the league phase in two seasons under Arne Slot, this was a fine start in Iraola’s reign.

They were watched by a Champions League-winning manager, a former Inter manager and a Madrid native, in Rafa Benitez. The Spaniard’s loyalties as a boy lay with Real Madrid. It gave him an added reason to savour Mac Allister’s strike. Few others at Anfield needed one, though.

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold went to the locker room after suffering a hip injury on a sack taken on Seattle’s first drive of the season. Drew Lock entered the game for Seattle’s second drive, and Darnold was officially listed as out just before halftime. Darnold was getting further tests on his hip off-site.

Here’s a closer view:

The knee hitting the ground so hard is the primary concern here.

Darnold was clearly hobbled as he headed to the sideline, and according to the NBC broadcast, he initially waived off medical staff. But eventually he was examined and taken back to the locker room, his gait clearly affected by the injury.

Darnold, 29, was excellent in his debut season in Seattle, throwing for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the regular season. He was even better in big games, including two key wins over the Rams. He threw for 346 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the NFC Championship before the defense led the way in the Super Bowl.

Darnold was a great fit for Klint Kubiak’s offense, especially thriving on under-center play-action passes. Only the Rams were under center more than the Seahawks last season, and even though Kubiak got hired away as the Raiders‘ coach, new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury was expected to run many of the same concepts. Darnold had a league-best 11.8 yards per attempt on those types of plays.

Obviously, an extended absence for Darnold would be a massive blow for Seattle. The Seahawks have gotten encouraging early returns from running back Jadarian Price, but with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III leaving for the Chiefs in free agency and Zach Charbonnet still recovering from a torn ACL, there’s not much experience in the running back room. Darnold’s efficiency unlocked an Offensive Player of the Year-winning campaign from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, too.

Lock made 21 starts across his first three seasons after being a second-round pick of the Broncos in 2019, but then he got shipped off to Seattle in the Russell Wilson trade. Lock lost the starting quarterback battle to Geno Smith, who ended up taking every snap of the season. Lock did get a short cameo in 2023 with Seattle before signing with the Giants in 2024. He appeared in eight games (starting five) and threw six touchdowns and five interceptions. He returned to Seattle last year but attempted just three passes.

Jalen Milroe is the Seahawks’ emergency third quarterback, which means he can only play if Lock gets hurt, too.

Overall, Lock entered the night 10-18 as a starter with a career completion percentage under 60%. He did get significant action this preseason and played solidly.

Chelsea scored four times in 12 second-half minutes as Leeds suffered a Carabao Cup collapse to lose 6-3 in the third round at Stamford Bridge.

The visitors led 2-0 just after half-time thanks to Tarik Muharemovic and Brenden Aaronson against a Blues side showing nine changes from Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal, but after Xabi Alonso sent on Cole Palmer at the head of four half-time substitutions, everything changed.

Palmer got two in two minutes to equalise – the first a penalty – then Pedro Neto, another half-time introduction, scored to complete a six-minute turnaround.

Danny Welbeck made it four as Morgan Rogers marked his impact from the bench with three assists.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored as Leeds looked to pick up the shattered pieces of what had been an excellent away performance, but which was rubber-stamped as a horror show when Valentin Barco got his first goal for the club to make it five. Welbeck headed in a sixth in stoppage time.

A topsy-turvy game was further evidence of Chelsea’s new reality under Alonso, that they have a fine first XI capable of scintillating attacking football but a squad that lacks quality in depth and is defensively brittle.

Their second string were a poor second best in the first half. Understudy goalkeeper Mike Penders made two impressive save but then a costly error to hand leads their opener, conceding a needless corner from which Muharemovic headed in.

There was barely a flicker of a response from the Blues. Their only chance came when Reggie Watson – the debutant 16-year-old son of former Wigan defender Ben – started a move with a lovely ball out wide that was flicked by Pep Chavarria into the path of Jamie Gittens, whose drive was pushed into the side-netting by goalkeeper Michael Zetterer.

Alonso evidently had seen enough. He sent on Reece James alongside Rogers, Neto and Palmer for the second half, but Chelsea’s situation got worse almost immediately.

Just over two minutes in, Barco lost possession needlessly and Leeds worked it wide to Ethan Ampadu who crossed, Lukas Nmecha flicked on deftly and Aaronson strode onto the ball unmarked to slam home.

Then the came a remarkable fightback, led by Rogers and Palmer. Dan James stood on the foot of Chavarria and from the penalty spot Palmer made it 2-1.

His goal to equalise only seconds later was well taken but surely an error from Zetterer, a gentle caress of a finish into the corner that left the goalkeeper inexplicably rooted to the spot.

Neto rolled Chelsea into the lead from Rogers’ pass before the hour mark as Leeds’ capitulation continued apace.

Welbeck’s goal was arguably the best of the lot. Rogers picked him out with a low ball into the box but the the veteran striker had everything still to do, dragging the ball inside before dodging by his defender and firing straight through Zetterer.

Calvert-Lewin finished well from Noah Okafor’s cross as Leeds found a renewed hope, one that was quickly extinguished when Barco drilled in a fifth, before Welbeck headed his third Blues goal.

Pakistan U-19 cricket team

A group of masked protesters gathered outside a four-star hotel in Portsmouth after wrongly believing that a group of asylum seekers had been taken there. They later discovered that the people staying at the hotel were members of Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team.Around 40 people gathered outside the Marriott hotel on Tuesday evening, with many wearing balaclavas or other face coverings. The protesters had reportedly seen a group of men they believed were asylum seekers arriving at the hotel.George Madgwick, a Reform councillor whose ward includes the hotel, was called to the scene to help resolve the situation. He spoke to the hotel manager, who explained that the men were Pakistan’s Under-19 cricketers, who are in England for a tour and are using the Marriott as their base.Madgwick also spoke to the team’s coach and was shown proof that the group were cricketers.“I went out to the protesters and told them, ‘You’ve got it wrong guys, it’s a cricket club.’ They left within a couple of minutes. It was a massively unfortunate incident,” Madgwick told The Guardian.He said the misunderstanding was partly because the coach carrying the players was operated by the same company that had transported asylum seekers who recently arrived in Portsmouth by boat.“From the perspective of the people of Portsmouth who are already on high alert, this was a coach from the same company which was turning up with about 40 foreign men,” Madgwick said.The incident came after tensions rose in Portsmouth following the arrival of asylum seekers on small boats from France. Hundreds of people, many wearing balaclavas, clashed with police in the city on Sunday evening. Police are investigating possible assaults and criminal damage.A day earlier, crowds dressed in black and wearing balaclavas had blocked a road near the port of Dover. Far-right activist Daniel Thomas, who is closely linked to Tommy Robinson, said he had organised both demonstrations.Madgwick said he understood the concerns of local residents but acknowledged that the incident was far from ideal.“It doesn’t make our city look like the welcoming city it is. But it’s reflective of the climate we live in, and where people are deeply concerned about the issues,” he said.Madgwick had earlier posted on Facebook asking people not to go to the hotel after residents contacted him about what they believed were migrants staying there. He later made the post private after it attracted abusive comments.The England and Wales Cricket Board has since contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board to check on the wellbeing of the players and is reviewing security arrangements for the remainder of the team’s tour.Pakistan Under-19 recently played England Under-19 in a four-day Test, losing by 10 runs. The teams are scheduled to meet in a one-day match at Arundel on Wednesday, before another ODI in Guildford on Saturday.Pakistan’s senior men’s team is also currently in England for the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston.

Mercedes Moné has been on an incredible run following her return to AEW this year. Unfortunately, her boyfriend has not been on an amazing run, as he has yet to win a match on Dynamite in roughly two years.

The Beast Mortos has become a must-see talent on the roster, as he is a luchador who is able to showcase both his athleticism and his strength. He is a member of La Faccion Ingobernable and has gotten to share the ring with several top names on the roster.

The luchador was in action tonight against Andrade El Idolo as he challenged him for the AEW National Championship. This was not a straightforward match for the champion, as he had to work hard for the win. He was able to connect with his Dia de los Muertos elbow and followed this up with the DM for the win.

Andrade has scored yet another win in his campaign to become the greatest National Champion of all time. He is also looking to build up great momentum before he uses his world title match contract.

For Mortos, his Dynamite losing streak continues. He has not won a match since July 2024, when he won a trios match alongside Roderick Strong and Rush. Fortunately, he has found more success on AEW Collision and on Ring of Honor. He even became one-half of the ROH Tag Team Champions alongside Sammy Guevara.

But as seen on social media, the luchador has not been dwelling on his setbacks, as he has celebrated his partner Mercedes Moné’s great success recently. He may have his breakthrough sooner rather than later, as despite losing, he has pushed all his opponents to their limits.