In a busy weekend of European soccer, several marquee players made headlines across the continent. Ferran Torres, the recent Spain World Cup hero, marked his first appearance for Paris Saint‑Germain (PSG) with a brace, helping the French champions secure a 2‑2 draw against Rennes in the Ligue 1 opener.
Torres’ dream start for PSG
Torres entered the match off the bench in the second half and found the net in the 71st and 82nd minutes. Both goals were set up by his Spain teammate Fabian Ruiz, showcasing the chemistry the duo displayed during the World Cup. The goals lifted PSG from a penalty‑shootout loss to Lens in the French Super Cup and kept the club from suffering a second straight defeat.
Rennes had taken the lead twice before Torres’ intervention, with Sebastian Szymanski and Esteban Lepaul scoring in the first half. The French side ultimately settled for a point, but the performance gave PSG fans confidence heading into the season.
Barcelona dominates Elche
Across the Pyrenees, Barcelona began its La Liga title defense in emphatic fashion, routing Elche 5‑0 at the Estadio Municipal. Raphinha and Fermín López each contributed two goals, while newcomer Karim Adeyemi added the fifth. The victory represents the largest margin of victory in the competition so far this season.
Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick, praised the attacking display and highlighted the depth of his squad as they aim for a third consecutive league crown. Lamine Yamal, the teenage prodigy, was substituted at halftime, appearing visibly upset by the decision.
Manchester City’s perfect debut for Enzo Maresca
In England, Manchester City celebrated a “perfect day” for new manager Enzo Maresca. The club rallied late to defeat Bournemouth 2‑1, scoring twice in the final ten minutes of the Premier League opener. The win marked Maresca’s first match as Pep Guardiola’s successor.
Meanwhile, Liverpool salvaged a 2‑2 draw at Newcastle thanks to a stoppage‑time penalty by Dominik Szoboszlai, and Brighton delivered a swift 4‑0 demolition of Aston Villa, scoring four goals within the opening 31 minutes.
Salah’s first goals in Turkey
Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah opened his two‑year contract with Turkish side Trabzonspor by scoring twice in a 2‑1 victory over Başakşehir. The goals came in the eighth and 48th minutes, giving the former Liverpool star an immediate impact in the Süper Lig.
Other league highlights
In the Dutch Eredivisie, Feyenoord’s 5‑2 win at Cambuur was interrupted when away supporters set off fireworks, causing minor injuries to several fans. The Dutch federation condemned the incident and announced a nationwide stadium ban for those responsible.
In Spain, Julián Álvarez faced boos from Atletico Madrid supporters after returning to action following a request to leave the club. He entered as a substitute in a 2‑2 draw with Villarreal, while the club affirmed it does not intend to sell the Argentine forward.
Italy’s Serie A saw both AC Milan and Juventus start their campaigns with victories. Milan defeated Torino 2‑1 with goals from Alphadjo Cissé and Adrien Rabiot, while Juventus secured a 1‑0 win over Frosinone thanks to Gleison Bremer.
These results set the tone for the early stages of the 2026‑27 season across Europe’s top leagues, highlighting the impact of new signings and managerial changes on the competitive landscape.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
