Joao Neves's Spectacular Hat-Trick Powers PSG to Dominant 6-3 Victory Over Toulouse

Paris Saint-Germain continued their impeccable start to the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season, securing a commanding 6-3 victory over Toulouse in an away fixture. The match was an attacking spectacle, primarily illuminated by the sensational performance of 20-year-old midfielder Joao Neves, who registered his first senior career hat-trick, featuring two breathtaking overhead kicks and a powerful long-range effort.

Early Goals Set a Relentless Pace

PSG wasted no time asserting their dominance, scoring three goals within the opening 15 minutes – a club first in all competitions. Bradley Barcola opened the scoring with a brilliant finish from a tight angle, setting the tone for a high-scoring affair. Neves then took center stage, stunning the crowd with his first two goals, both spectacular overhead kicks that demonstrated incredible athleticism and precision.

Ousmane Dembele further extended PSG's lead to 4-0 with a confident penalty before the halftime whistle. Toulouse, however, managed to pull one back through Charlie Cresswell, offering a glimmer of hope.

Neves Expresses Delight, Enrique Praises Performance

Following his remarkable performance, Neves shared his excitement with PSG TV: "I'm very happy with the victory, that's the first thing. And scoring my first hat-trick, I'm really pleased with that. It feels great to score three goals in this match. We played well, but I think there are still things we can improve. In the final part of the game, we conceded two goals, and that's not what we wanted, so we'll work on improving certain things. My overhead kicks? I'm happy with them, it's something I practice in training and it paid off in the match!"

Head coach Luis Enrique lauded Neves's exceptional display, particularly the quality of his goals. "Joao's hat-trick? It's not just his three goals but the way he scored them. It’s incredible," Enrique stated. "I think it’s an aspect of his game he can improve, that he should improve and I believe he will improve it."

Dominance Maintained Despite Late Goals

In the second half, Dembele converted another penalty after Bradley Barcola was fouled in the box, making the score 5-1. Neves then completed his memorable hat-trick with a stunning long-range strike, extending PSG's lead to 6-1. Despite the significant deficit, Toulouse showed resilience, with Yann Gboho and Alexis Vossah finding the net late in the game to narrow the final score to 6-3.

Enrique, while pleased with the win, acknowledged room for improvement: "I think that I am pleased. It’s to be expected that there are some lapses in the final stages of the match, but I don’t like it. We have to accept that the opponent can play and they showed their qualities. I think that, gradually, through training and matches, we need to regain our level. I’m happy, I think we started the match in the best possible way with our style of play and our desire to score goals. I believe we deserved this victory. It’s always difficult to play away, especially in this stadium, but I think we deserved this win."

PSG's Clinical Finishing and Key Milestones

Despite surprisingly even statistics, with Toulouse registering 14 shots to PSG's 13 and comparable expected goals, PSG's clinical finishing, especially from Neves and Dembele, proved decisive. This victory extends PSG's perfect start to their league campaign and continues their impressive away form, having now scored in their last 12 away Ligue 1 matches. Neves's hat-trick marks a significant personal milestone, not only as his first senior treble but also as the first by a central midfielder for PSG in Ligue 1 history, matching his entire previous season's league goal tally.