The best way to start UCL title defence? Show no mercy at all

It's not as easy as it seems - yes, the whole world knows you're the best at the moment, that you're the reigning champion, but you still need to prove that you're worth it.

And the process starts with the very first game of the new edition of the tournament, so you'd better register a statement win to show the others you deserve to be called a champion.

Well, that's precisely what Paris Saint-Germain did last night, as they started their UCL title defence with a 4-0 convincing home win over Atalanta at Parc des Princes.

Luis Enrique's men were better and stronger than their Italian contenders and were eager to prove it on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes. Just like they did when they dismantled Inter Milan in that memorable showdown in Munich in May.

UCL: Now put THIS in the Louvre! PSG's first-ever and biggest win in Champions League final history!

On Wednesday night, Luis Enrique could sit quietly in the commentary box, where he had been following some parts of the game lately. Les Parisiens suffocated La Dea straight from the start, breaking the deadlock after just three minutes. Marquinhos scored thanks to Fabian Ruiz's assist and it could have easily been 4-0 already within the opening ten minutes. That's how much better PSG were.

If it wasn't for nonchalant Bradley Barcola, who failed to score from the spot near the half-time break, who knows how deep Atalanta would have sunk by the end of the game. Still, Khvicha, Nuno Mendes and Gonzalo Ramos - deep into the stoppage time - made sure the visitors go home with four in their bags, just to show how merciless the hosts were on one, and how helpless the visitors were on the other end.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 1

Tuesday

Athletic Bilbao - Arsenal 0-2 (0-0)

/Martinelli 72, Trossard 87/

PSV - St. Gilloise 1-3 (0-2)

/Van Bommel 90 - David 9 pen, Ait El Hadj 39, Mac Allister 81/

Benfica - Qarabag 2-3 (2-1)

/Barrenechea 6, Pavlidis 16 - Andrade 30, Duran 48, Kashchuk 86/

Juventus - Dortmund 4-4 (0-0)

/Yildiz 64, Vlahovic 68, 90+4, Kelly 90+6 - Adeyemi 52, Nmecha 65, Couto 75, Bensebaini 83 pen/

Real Madrid - Olympique Marseille 2-1 (1-1)

/Mbappe 29 pen, 81 pen - Weah 22/

Tottenham - Villarreal 1-0 (1-0)

/Luiz Junior 4 og/

Wednesday

Olympiacos - Paphos 0-0

Slavia Prague - Bodo 2-2 (1-0)

/Mbodji 23, 74 - Bassi 78, Fet 90/

Ajax - Inter 0-2 (0-1)

/Thuram 42, 47/

Bayern - Chelsea 3-1 (2-1)

/Chalobah 20 og, Kane 27 pen, 63 - Palmer 29/

Liverpool - Atletico Madrid 3-2 (2-1)

/Robertson 4, Salah 6, Van Dijk 90+2 - Llorente 45+3, 81/

PSG - Atalanta 4-0 (2-0)

/Marquinhos 3, Khvicha 39, Mendes 51, Ramos 90+1/

Thursday

19.45: (2.80) Club Brugge (3.40) Monaco (2.50)

19.45: (3.20) Copenhagen (3.40) Leverkusen (2.25)

22.00: (2.10) Eintr.Frankfurt (3.50) Galatasaray (3.40)

22.00: (1.70) Man.City (3.60) Napoli (5.30)

22.00: (3.15) Newcastle (3.50) Barcelona (2.20)

22.00: (1.08) Sporting (12.0) Kairat Almaty (25.0)

***odds are subject to change***