Watch Brahimi score a hat-trick as Porto stroll to Champions League win over BATE, Latest Football News - The New Paper
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Watch Brahimi score a hat-trick as Porto stroll to Champions League win over BATE

Algeria midfielder Yacine Brahimi scored a hat-trick to help Porto crush blunder-prone BATE Borisov 6-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday, their biggest-ever win in the competition.

The performance sent a warning to Group H rivals Athletic Bilbao and Shakhtar Donetsk, although the Belarus champions proved feeble opposition and contributed to their own downfall with a series of defensive errors.

Porto, Champions League winners ten years ago under Jose Mourinho, have quickly been revitalised by former Spain under-21 coach Julen Lopetegui, winning six and drawing one of their seven matches this season.

Lopetegui was brought in after a relatively poor last season when Porto finished third in the league and fell in the Champions League group stage.

Brahimi, making his Champions League group debut, took full advantage of BATE’s generosity, starting with a gift from BATE goalkeeper Sergei Chernik in only the fifth minute.

He miscued a throw straight to Brahimi, who ran into the penalty area and hit the ball high into the net from a narrow angle.

Brahimi, who represented France at all age levels from Under-16 to Under-21 before declaring for Algeria, added a fine solo goal after 32 minutes, running from the halfway line and veering inside before shooting in off the far post.

As Porto’s dominance continued, Colombia forward Jackson Martinez volleyed against a post before scoring the third in the 37th minute.

Martinez also headed against the bar early in the second half but the home crowd did not have to wait long for further goals.

 

 

Brahimi curled in a superb free-kick for his hat-trick after 57 minutes and four minutes later substitute Adrian Lopez, who appeared in last season’s final for Atletico Madrid, scored the fifth.

Vincent Aboubakar, substituting for Martinez, completed the rout with quarter of an hour left as Porto surpassed their previous biggest victory in the competition, a 5-0 away success against Werder Bremen 20 years ago.

 

“For a first match it is incredible. This was also the first time I scored three goals. We played very well and we must go on like this. I’m very happy. I have to thank all.”

- Brahimi, who helped Algeria reach the second round at the World Cup this year.
 

Other match reports

Watch Chelsea frustrated as Huntelaar earns a Champions League point for Schalke.

Watch Gervinho, Totti destroy Moscow CSKA in their Champions League opener

Watch Pique's goal which sees Barca sneak past APOEL in Champions League tie

Other results

Bayern Mun   1-0 Man City
Roma             5-1 CSKA Moscow
Ajax               1-1 Paris St G
Barcelona     1-0 Apoel Nic
​​Chelsea        1-1 FC Schalke 04
NK Maribor   1-1 Sporting
​​Ath Bilbao     0-0 Shakt Donsk

Sources: Reuters, YouTube

 

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