Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the Champions League knockout round with a dominant 4-1 victory over Stuttgart, thanks to a sensational hat-trick from Ousmane Dembélé.
The French forward’s remarkable performance, combined with a goal from Bradley Barcola and an own goal by Stuttgart’s Willian Pacho, ensured that PSG progressed despite a shaky start to the competition.
The match, crucial for PSG’s hopes of advancing in Europe’s elite tournament, began with an early goal from Barcola.
A well-placed corner by Désiré Doué found Barcola at the far post, who calmly headed the ball into the net in the sixth minute.
Stuttgart pushed for an equalizer but was caught off guard by PSG’s quick counter-attacks. Dembélé doubled PSG’s lead in the 26th minute, tapping in a perfect pass from Barcola after a swift break.
With Stuttgart struggling to cope with the pace and intensity of PSG’s play, the visitors added a third goal just before halftime.
Dembélé was once again on target, unleashing a thunderous strike from the right side of the box to beat Stuttgart’s goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow.
The hat-trick was completed in the 54th minute when Dembélé curled a brilliant shot into the top corner, sealing PSG’s comfortable 4-0 lead.
Stuttgart managed to pull one back in the 77th minute when Pacho scored an own goal, but the damage had already been done.
The French side, buoyed by their impressive performance, had already secured their place in the Champions League play-offs.
Dembélé reflected on his standout performance, telling Canal+, “There was a lot to be proud of. We’ve been doing well for some time now, controlling matches and winning our games.”
He added, “There are players who want to win things here with PSG, who run and fight for the shirt. That’s what produces these results.”
The victory was a significant relief for PSG head coach Luis Enrique, whose side had been under pressure after a disappointing group stage.
With three losses and a draw, PSG was at risk of early elimination. However, the win over Stuttgart, combined with their recent 4-2 comeback victory against Manchester City, saw them climb into the Champions League knockout stages.
PSG’s focus now turns to the upcoming two-legged play-off in February, where they will face either Monaco or Brest. Dembélé acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, “Whatever happens in the play-off, it’ll be a battle.”
For Stuttgart, the defeat means elimination from the Champions League on their return to the competition after 15 years. Despite the loss, Stuttgart had a commendable campaign but fell short when it mattered most.
Elsewhere, PSG’s dominant performance was overshadowed by pre-match tensions, as 59 French “hooligans” were arrested by German police due to fears of violence surrounding the game.
Additionally, 47 high-risk Stuttgart supporters were banned from the stadium, ensuring that the focus remained on the football rather than off-field disturbances.
With PSG’s hopes of a first Champions League title still alive, Dembélé’s hat-trick has given the team a crucial boost as they prepare for the knockout stage.
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