Brahimi shines with historic hat-trick in Porto’s Champions League rout
Yacine Brahimi delivered a night to remember at the Estádio do Dragão, making Champions League history with a dazzling hat-trick as FC Porto thrashed BATE Borisov 6-0 in their Group H opener on Wednesday.
The Algerian international became only the fourth African player to score a hat-trick in the competition, joining the ranks of elite names with a performance that left fans and pundits in awe. A former Rennes player, Brahimi showcased the flair and attacking quality that had marked his rise through Ligue 1 and La Liga in recent seasons.
Brahimi opened the scoring in the fifth minute, capitalising on a mistake by the Belarusian goalkeeper. He doubled Porto’s lead with a brilliant solo effort — collecting the ball deep, slicing through the BATE defence with effortless dribbling, and firing into the net.
Just before half-time, Colombian striker Jackson Martínez made it 3-0, putting the Portuguese side in full control of the match.
The second half saw Brahimi add to his tally with a sublime free-kick, reminiscent of the one he scored against Lille in the qualifying play-offs. The midfielder’s masterclass drew a standing ovation as he left the field, having firmly etched his name into Porto’s European history.
Adrián López scored Porto’s fifth, and Cameroonian forward Vincent Aboubakar — making his Champions League debut — sealed the win with his first goal for the club, rounding off a dominant attacking display.
The emphatic victory sends a strong signal to Porto’s group-stage rivals and confirms Brahimi’s growing stature on the European stage. His hat-trick also cements his place among Africa’s finest to have graced the Champions League, joining George Weah, Samuel Eto’o, and Didier Drogba in the record books.
