The 2026–27 UEFA Champions League opened with goals, milestones and immediate movement in the race for the competition’s Golden Boot. After Matchday 1, Stuttgart striker Ermedin Demirović and Paris Saint-Germain forward Ferran Torres lead the scoring chart with three goals each.
Demirović produced the first hat-trick of the campaign as Stuttgart beat Champions League debutants Viking 3–1 at the MHP Arena. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international scored all three of Stuttgart’s goals in a 12-minute first-half spell, finding the net in the 20th, 26th and 32nd minutes.
The treble was Demirović’s first in the Champions League and the first ever scored by a Stuttgart player in the competition. His 12-minute hat-trick was also the joint-second fastest in Champions League history, matching Robert Lewandowski’s 2019 feat for Bayern Munich.
Deniz Undav played a key role in Stuttgart’s victory, assisting Demirović’s second and third goals. Viking briefly levelled through Zlatko Tripić, but Demirović’s rapid second and third strikes ensured Stuttgart opened their league-phase campaign with three points.
Torres matched Demirović’s tally as PSG began their attempt to win a third consecutive Champions League title with a 6–1 win over Slovan Bratislava. The Spain international completed a hat-trick in his first Champions League appearance for PSG, becoming the first player to score three goals on his European debut for the club.
Ousmane Dembélé was outstanding in Paris, scoring twice and providing two assists in the same match. Two of his assists set up Torres, while Fabián Ruiz completed the scoring after Slovan had pulled one goal back through Suleiman Camara.
Dembélé leads the Champions League assist standings after Matchday 1 with two, although he shares that total with Nicolás Paz of Como, Aston Villa defender Pau Torres, Stuttgart’s Undav and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal. Yamal combined a goal with two assists in Barcelona’s 5–1 victory over Feyenoord.
A group of seven players sit one goal behind the leading pair. Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City won 2–0 at Porto, while Dembélé, Michael Olise, Raphinha, Serhou Guirassy, Marc Bartra and Danijel Šturm also began the campaign with braces.
Haaland’s double at the Estádio do Dragão took his Champions League record to 59 goals in 59 appearances. Olise scored twice and assisted once in Bayern Munich’s 5–0 victory over Bodø/Glimt, while Raphinha struck twice in Barcelona’s comprehensive win over Feyenoord.
Liverpool and Arsenal also opened with narrow victories. Liverpool came from behind to beat Atlético Madrid 2–1 at Anfield through goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, while Arsenal defeated Napoli 1–0 in Italy thanks to a 75th-minute goal from Martin Ødegaard.
Matchday 2 is scheduled for 13 and 14 October. Demirović and Torres begin the next round one goal clear, but the early scoring picture remains tightly packed, with Haaland, Dembélé, Olise and Raphinha all positioned to challenge for top spot.
