Ousmane Dembele’s scintillating form propelled Paris Saint-Germain to a commanding 3-0 victory over French rivals Brest in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie. Dembele’s brace, coupled with Vitinha’s penalty, all but secured PSG’s passage to the last 16, leaving Brest with a seemingly insurmountable task in the second leg. This dominant performance underscored PSG’s overwhelming favoritism going into the tie against a Brest side making their debut in European competition. The match, held at the Stade de Roudourou in Guingamp, showcased the stark difference in quality between the two sides, with PSG’s attacking prowess proving too much for Brest to handle. Dembele’s two goals further cemented his remarkable run of form, bringing his tally to 23 goals for the season, a testament to his lethal finishing ability and growing influence within the PSG squad.
Dembele’s recent goal-scoring spree has been nothing short of extraordinary. He has netted 18 times in just 11 appearances over the past two months, including a remarkable 10 goals in his last four outings, a streak punctuated by a hat-trick against Brest in a Ligue 1 encounter just ten days prior to this Champions League clash. His current form makes him virtually unstoppable, and coupled with PSG’s overall dominance against French opposition, having not lost to a domestic rival since May, paints a daunting picture for any team facing them. This victory extends PSG’s impressive record against Brest, who haven’t defeated the Parisian giants in any competition for 40 years, a streak dating back to January 1985. With the return leg looming in Paris, PSG appear poised to advance to a last-16 showdown against either Liverpool or Barcelona, and based on their current form, they will fancy their chances against either European powerhouse.
The match unfolded with PSG asserting their dominance early on, although Brest had a brief moment of fortune when an attempted clearance by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma nearly ricocheted into the net off Brest forward Ludovic Ajorque. However, PSG’s breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Dembele’s shot struck the arm of Brest’s Pierre Lees-Melou inside the penalty area. After consulting the pitchside monitor, the referee awarded a penalty, which Vitinha coolly converted, sending Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot the wrong way. Despite falling behind, Brest showed resilience and created a couple of chances to equalize through Abdallah Sima, whose efforts were thwarted by a crucial tackle and then the woodwork. PSG also had a near own-goal scare when Achraf Hakimi almost diverted the ball into his own net.
Just before halftime, PSG doubled their lead with a moment of attacking brilliance. Escaping Brest’s press with slick passing, Hakimi found Dembele on the right flank. The French international cut inside and unleashed a shot that beat Bizot at his near post, showcasing his clinical finishing ability. Brest continued to threaten sporadically in the second half, with Sima hitting the post early on. PSG also had a goal disallowed for a tight offside call against Desire Doue, while Dembele himself missed a good opportunity to extend the lead. However, Dembele eventually secured his brace and PSG’s third goal midway through the second half. In an attempt to set up Bradley Barcola, the ball fortuitously rebounded back to Dembele, who finished with the aid of a deflection, putting the game beyond Brest’s reach.
This emphatic victory reaffirmed PSG’s status as one of the tournament’s favorites. Dembele’s exceptional form, combined with the team’s overall strength and tactical fluidity under Luis Enrique, makes them a formidable opponent for any team. The Parisians’ ability to dismantle Brest, a team known for their defensive solidity, speaks volumes about their attacking prowess. With the second leg at home, PSG will be confident of sealing their progress to the next round, where they will face a sterner test against either Liverpool or Barcelona.
Looking ahead, the potential clashes against Liverpool or Barcelona present intriguing storylines. Both teams boast rich histories in the Champions League and possess the quality to challenge PSG. However, given PSG’s current form and Dembele’s prolific goal-scoring, they will be confident in their ability to overcome either opponent. The return leg against Brest will likely serve as another opportunity for PSG to fine-tune their tactics and maintain their momentum heading into the crucial knockout stages. The performance against Brest served as a clear statement of intent from PSG, signifying their ambition to compete for the coveted Champions League trophy.
