Brahimi and Gervinho shine as Porto and Roma light up Champions League night
The second evening of the Champions League group stage delivered plenty of excitement, largely thanks to the attacking prowess of AS Roma and FC Porto. Both teams showcased their firepower with commanding victories, led by their African forwards Gervinho and Yacine Brahimi.
Yacine Brahimi made history on Wednesday as he became the first Algerian player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League. The Porto midfielder was instrumental in his team’s dominant 6-0 win over Belarusian side BATE Borisov. Demonstrating his exceptional dribbling, shooting accuracy, and creativity, Brahimi put on a dazzling display that delighted fans and secured his place at the top of the competition’s scoring charts.
Brahimi opened the scoring early, capitalising on a defensive error, before weaving through the opposition defence to double Porto’s lead. After the break, he added a superb free-kick to complete his hat-trick, further asserting his quality on Europe’s biggest stage. His performance was rewarded with a standing ovation at Porto’s Estádio do Dragão.
Adding to Porto’s attacking threat, Cameroonian forward Vincent Aboubakar came off the bench to score his first-ever Champions League goal. His finish capped an emphatic victory and highlighted Porto’s clinical edge against a struggling BATE Borisov side.
Meanwhile, AS Roma secured a comprehensive 5-1 victory over CSKA Moscow, with Ivorian forward Gervinho spearheading the attack. The former Arsenal winger was in scintillating form, assisting Roma’s opening goal and netting twice himself. Gervinho’s pace and trickery repeatedly troubled the Russian defence, helping Roma to establish an early lead that they never relinquished.
Roma’s victory was further boosted by contributions from Iturbe, Maicon, and Fiorenzi, completing a resounding win on their Champions League return. CSKA’s only consolation came via Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa, who scored a late goal to avoid a shutout.
These standout performances from African forwards not only underline their growing influence in European football but also provide a thrilling spectacle for Champions League fans. Both Brahimi and Gervinho’s displays were a reminder of the exceptional talent coming from the continent, capable of turning matches on their head with moments of individual brilliance.
With such emphatic starts to their campaigns, FC Porto and AS Roma will be confident of progressing deep into the tournament, buoyed by the form of their star attackers.
