Algeria international midfielder Yacine Brahimi scored a hat-trick to help Porto crush blunder-prone BATE Borisov 6-0 in the UEFA 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 Belarussian champions proved feeble opposition and contributed to their own downfall with a series of defensive errors.
Porto, Champions League winners 10 years ago under Jose Mourinho, have quickly been revitalized by former Spain under-21 coach Julen Lopetegui, winning six and drawing one of their seven matches this season.
Photo: Reuters
Lopetegui was brought in after a relatively poor campaign 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 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 halfway and veering inside, before shooting in off the far post.
As Porto’s dominance continued, Colombia international 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.
Substitute Vincent Aboubakar, on 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,” Brahimi said after the first hat-trick of his career. “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 everyone.”
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