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(Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

VfB Stuttgart 1-4 PSG: Dembélé bags three as PSG progress to Champions League play-offs

A Dembélé hat-trick was the highlight of the night as PSG compounded VfB Stuttgart to finish outside the UEFA Champions League play-off places, whilst the Parisians claimed a seeded position in the final league phase match. 

The Frenchman’s hat-trick was sandwiched between the opener and the final goal, scored by Bradley Barcola and Chris Führich respectively, in an entertaining game in southwest Germany.

As it happened

At the start of the night, PSG and VfB Stuttgart occupied 22nd and 24th in the league phase table respectively, with the Parisians hoping for more of the same following their stunning 4-2 comeback win last week against Manchester City. With both teams still vying for a place in the new play-off format, it was all to play for at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

The game started at a great tempo with PSG dominating the ball and playing with intensity and purpose in the opening minutes. Clearly, the comeback win against Manchester City had encouraged this young, exciting PSG team and they were duly rewarded after just six minutes.

Nuno Mendes’ out-swinging corner was eloquently flicked to the back post by Desire Doué as Bradley Barcola anticipated the delivery first and headed in from close range to give the Parisians an early lead in Germany, netting his first Champions League goal of the campaign in the process.

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Two chances fell the way of Stuttgart’s Chris Führich, with one being a glorious opportunity which forced Euro 2020 winner, Gianluigi Donnarumma, into a brilliant fingertip save to keep the French side ahead.

Barely 30 seconds had passed before Barcola was played in down the left flank and given space to drive towards goal and place a perfect ball across for Ousmane Dembélé to tap home. The lineman’s flag was raised but upon VAR review, Barcola had timed his run to perfection and the goal was awarded – Luis Enrique’s side were in dreamland after 16 minutes.

Sebastian Hoeneß ‘side had the wind knocked out of them after that and the Ligue 1 champions could smell blood. A poor back pass to Fabian Bredlow gave Barcola a sniff of an opportunity as the keeper entered no-man’s-land outside his area. Thankfully for the hosts, Fabian Bredlow got there first before the in-form winger.

The same routine from which the second goal was scored continued to work to full effect as Barcola left his full-back for dead down the left channel and drove towards goal before crossing for his compatriot Doué to seemingly poke home, only for Bredlow to make a stunning save on the goal-line which the technology confirmed did not cross. Stuttgart were riding their luck.

But after 35 minutes, it was game over. Vintinha drove through the middle of the park and played it out to the right flank as Dembelé drove into the area and unleashed a rifling shot across Bredlow into the back of the net to claim a brace. Stuttgart’s European adventure appeared to be coming to an end.

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In the second half, Stuttgart started brightly and forced their opponents into some sharp defending following a multitude of dangerous crosses and set-pieces. None were taken, granting Dembélé an opportunity to complete his maiden European hat-trick.

An audacious nutmeg found Achraf Hakimi inside the area who was composed and quick-footed to evade multiple challenges before laying off to the Frenchman, who curled an beautiful effort into to the top-right corner despite Bredlow’s best efforts. 

There was momentary cause for celebration for the home crowd as Maxmillian Mittelstädt produced a sweet curling ball for Führich to flick into the bottom corner, but Stuttgart ultimately bow out of the UEFA Champions League after finishing in 26th.

PSG rise to 15th and will learn their opponents in the play-offs on Friday.

The lineups

VfB: Bredlow; Mittelstädt, Chabot, al Dakhil, Vagnomann; Stiller, Karazor; Leweling, Millot, Führich; Untat

PSG: Donnarumma; Hernandez, Pacho, Marquinhos, Hakimi; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Barcola, Dembélé, Doué

VfB Stuttgart 1-4 PSG: Dembélé bags three as PSG progress to Champions League play-offs – FromTheSpot