Yacine Brahimi shines as Porto ease past BATE Borisov in Champions League
FC Porto cruised to a comfortable 6-0 victory over BATE Borisov on Wednesday, propelled by a dazzling hat-trick from Algerian midfielder Yacine Brahimi. The former Rennes player marked his Champions League debut with a performance that highlighted his rising star status.
“Scoring three goals in my first Champions League match is incredible,” Brahimi said after the game. “I had never scored a hat-trick in my career before this. We played very well as a team and we need to keep that momentum going. I am very happy — thanks to all my teammates.”
Brahimi also made history as the first Algerian to score a hat-trick in the Champions League, a remarkable milestone in his blossoming career. Reflecting on the match, he added, “It was a very important game for me — my first in the Champions League — and we wanted to win. We did it in the best possible way. It’s great for our confidence.”
The midfielder’s electric display included a goal capitalizing on a goalkeeper error, a skilful solo run through the defence, and a superb free-kick reminiscent of his previous Champions League exploits. His performance was met with a standing ovation from the home crowd at the Estádio do Dragão.
Porto’s victory was rounded out by strikes from Jackson Martinez, Adrian Lopez, and a late goal from Vincent Aboubakar, who marked his own Champions League debut with a goal off the bench.
Brahimi’s breakthrough night signals the emergence of a key player for Porto as they look to make a strong impact in Europe’s premier club competition this season.
