A Night of Magic and Dominance
Under the glowing lights of the MHPArena, PSG didn’t just secure their spot in the Champions League playoffs, they put on a show. In a match where a draw would have sufficed, the Parisians chose spectacle over security, dismantling Stuttgart 1-4, with an electrifying hat-trick from Ousmane Dembélé. After conquering Manchester City a week earlier, this triumph was another statement of intent.
Next up : a duel with either Brest or Monaco.
A Fiery Start, A Swift Knockout
The atmosphere in Stuttgart was electric. With 60,000 German fans roaring, the scene was set for an intense battle. But PSG wasted no time silencing the crowd. From the very first opportunity, the capital club struck. In the 6th minute, a well-delivered corner from Dembélé found its way to Bradley Barcola, who tapped in at the far post. Just like that, Paris was in control.
Ten minutes later, the magic continued. A lightning-fast counter-attack, orchestrated by Vitinha and Barcola, ended with Dembélé coolly finishing at the back post. The sequence was poetry in motion, punctuated by a crucial Donnarumma save moments earlier to deny Chris Führich an equalizer. The Italian goalkeeper’s heroics kept PSG firmly in command.
At 0-2, Stuttgart tried to resist. But when Dembélé is in such form, resistance is futile. In the 35th minute, he unleashed a thunderous right-footed strike into the top corner. 0-3 at halftime, and the German side looked stunned.
Dembélé’s Night to Remember
The second half saw more of the same. If there was still a sliver of hope for Stuttgart, it vanished in the 54th minute. Achraf Hakimi picked out Dembélé in the box, and the French winger completed his hat-trick with a composed finish. Nine goals in his last five games, Dembouz is flying.
With the job done, Luis Enrique shuffled his deck, giving some of his key players a breather. Stuttgart managed to claw one back in the 77th minute after a William Pacho own goal, but it was merely a consolation. The night belonged to PSG.
A Playoff Date with Destiny
Two commanding wins in a row have propelled Paris to 15th place in the Champions League standings, an impressive turnaround from their rocky start. But the journey isn’t over. Now, they await their playoff opponent: either Brest or Monaco. Whichever team stands in their way, PSG has made one thing clear: they are here to compete, and they are here to entertain.
By Nouha Chani
Sources: UEFA.com, L’Équipe, RMC Sport
