Dembele double helps PSG boost hopes of reaching Champions League knockout stage

Ousmane Dembele’s double gave Paris St Germain the advantage after beating Brest 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off tie.

PSG took the lead through Vitinha’s penalty and although Brest had two great first half chances through Abdallah Sima, Dembele struck twice either side of half-time to wrap up victory in an all-French clash.

The teams will meet again in the second leg, which is set to take place at the Parc des Princes on February 19, with a spot in the last 16 at stake.

PSG dominated possession in the early minutes of Tuesday’s contest at Guingamp’s Stade de Roudourou and Achraf Hakimi threatened on the wing, where he hit a menacing low pass across the face of goal which was held by Marco Bizot.

The visitors were nearly caught out at the back when Gianluigi Donnarumma attempted to kick the ball from his own backline, but was charged down by Ludovic Ajorque and the ball smashed off the forward and went narrowly wide of the post.

A promising opportunity saw Joao Neves’ shot blocked by the Brest defence and Dembele launched another effort towards goal which hit the hand of Pierre Lees-Melou.

After a VAR consultation at the monitor, the referee awarded a penalty and Vitinha sent PSG ahead from the spot 21 minutes in with a cool finish into the bottom corner.

On his 100th Champions League appearance, skipper Marquinhos made a great intervention to poke a dangerous Brest cross clear and Dembele came close at the other end, breaking through the home defence before slicing a shot over the crossbar.

Brest had two great opportunities in quick succession from Sima when he burst down the wing and moved into a good position, but as he teed up the shot Willian Pacho made a brilliant touch to clear the ball behind.

The resulting corner then saw the Brighton loanee rattle the woodwork with a flicked header.

The visitors went close as Desire Doue rolled in a pass which Bradley Barcola smashed wide and the hosts threatened again when Hakimi turned a low cross narrowly wide of his own post.

However, PSG doubled their lead in the 45th minute when Dembele broke into the box and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.

Brest had a great chance minutes into the second half when Sima’s shot from a tight angle was saved by Donnarumma and PSG broke forward just moments later, with Doue finding the net, but the goal was disallowed.

The hosts piled on the pressure to extend their lead and Dembele soon bagged his brace after winning the ball in the box before firing past Bizot in the 66th minute, taking his Champions League goal tally to six in the last three games.

Mahdi Camara then forced a low save from Donnarumma, but the visitors remained in control as Dembele went close again with another chance that flew wide.

A late Brest charge saw Donnarumma tip Mathias Pereira Lage’s dipping cross over the bar before the PSG defence cleared Massadio Haidara’s effort.