STUTTGART, Germany — Ousmane Dembélé, the striker for Paris Saint-Germain, celebrated a remarkable moment on Wednesday by scoring his second career hat trick during a pivotal Champions League match against Stuttgart. The accomplished forward achieved this milestone during the 54th minute, contributing significantly to PSG’s 4-1 victory and sealing their place in the tournament’s knockout stage.
Dembélé’s scoring spree began after teammate Bradley Barcola opened the scoring early in the sixth minute. Dembélé went on to net three consecutive goals, showcasing his prowess on the pitch. Post-match, he expressed that taking on the responsibilities of a No. 9 position has allowed him to become more assertive in front of goal. “As soon as I take the best of a player, I find myself in front of goal,” he remarked while accepting the man-of-the-match trophy. “I had the lucidity to score and was also very well assisted by my teammates.”
At 27 years old, Dembélé has made a notable impact in the Champions League this season, scoring four goals across six matches. His first hat trick came back in 2016 when he was just a teenager, representing Rennes in a 4-1 Ligue 1 win against Nantes.
PSG started the match decisively, showcasing their dominance with a corner kick that culminated in Barcola’s header at the far post, marking his second straight goal in the tournament, assisted by a clever flick from Désiré Doué. Dembélé then swiftly extended PSG’s lead with goals in both the 17th and 35th minutes, making headlines as the team took a 3-0 advantage — their fastest such lead in a Champions League match since 2013, according to Opta statistics.
After a rocky start to their campaign, which saw three losses, PSG gained confidence following a thrilling comeback against Manchester City, winning 4-2 after being down 2-0. Dembélé shared insights on the team’s current form, stating, “We have been playing well recently, we control possession and we win matches. The team’s spirit is very good.”
However, PSG played without Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was unable to participate due to UEFA regulations after transferring from Napoli earlier this month. The overall energy of the team and Dembélé’s individual brilliance seem to pave the way as they move forward in the Champions League.
