Ivorian coach Yaya Touré’s historic first Champions League league-stage appearance ended in a heavy 6-1 defeat as Slovan Bratislava were beaten by reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.
The former Ivory Coast international made history by becoming the first African coach to lead a club into the Champions League league stage after guiding Slovan through the qualifying rounds.
But the landmark occasion proved a difficult introduction to the highest level of European club football, with PSG producing a dominant performance in Paris on Wednesday.
Touré had guided Slovan through the qualifying rounds to reach the league stage, earning the opportunity to take charge of a Champions League match at a level he had not previously experienced as a manager.
His reward was a meeting with PSG, who entered the fixture as reigning European champions.
The scale of the challenge quickly became clear as Slovan struggled to cope with the French side.
PSG took the lead after 17 minutes through Ballon d’Or winner Dembele, who followed up after Nuno Mendes’ powerful attempt struck the post.
The French side doubled their advantage six minutes later.
Slovan were punished while attempting to build play from the back, with Dembele heading home from a deflected cross by Dro Fernandez.
Dembele then changed roles from scorer to provider, sending a cross into the six-yard box for Torres to finish at the near post.
PSG continued their dominance after the interval, with Torres scoring his second goal two minutes into the second half.
He completed his hat-trick later in the match, turning in a corner from Dembele in a crowded penalty area.
The five-goal advantage was briefly reduced when Gambian striker Suleiman Camara scored for Slovan.
Camara moved into the six-yard box before shifting the ball onto his right foot and firing into the top corner.
The goal offered Slovan a moment of individual quality, but it did little to change the outcome.
Fabian Ruiz added PSG’s sixth goal late on, drilling his effort into the far corner to complete the rout.
For Touré, the defeat represented his first loss in the Champions League since taking charge of Slovan Bratislava.
The Ivorian had already suffered a defeat in the domestic league this season, but his European campaign had remained unbeaten through the qualifying rounds before Wednesday’s meeting with PSG.
The result therefore marked a significant change in the level of opposition facing Touré and his players.
Slovan had negotiated the qualifying stages successfully to reach the league stage, but their first match against a team operating at the highest level of European football exposed the difference between the two sides.
Despite the emphatic defeat, Touré’s achievement remains significant for African football.
His progression with Slovan means he has become the first African coach to lead a club into this stage of the Champions League, adding another milestone to a coaching career that is still in its early stages.
“Bravo to Yaya Touré 🇨🇮 who, tonight against PSG, became the first African coach of 𝑳’𝑯𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑶𝑰𝑹𝑬 to lead a Champions League match.”
Touré’s coaching journey comes after a distinguished playing career that included a spell with Manchester City and international football with Ivory Coast.
His Champions League debut as a manager therefore brought him back onto one of European football’s biggest stages, although this time from the technical area.
