Ousmane Dembele hat-trick extends Paris St Germain’s Champions League campaign

Ousmane Dembele scored a hat-trick as Paris St Germain booked their place in the Champions League play-off places with a comfortable 4-1 win over Stuttgart.

A lively start saw Luis Enrique’s team deliver an early blow when Bradley Barcola scored from a well-worked set-piece and the French forward then provided a smart assist for Dembele to score.

Dembele continued to star and completed his hat-trick with two brilliantly placed goals either side of half-time before Chris Fuhrich pulled one back for the hosts.

The win was PSG’s third straight victory in the Champions League following an initial poor start to the competition and their resurgence has lifted them into the seeded play-off positions.

However, a miserable evening for Stuttgart ended their Champions League experience as they finished in the elimination spots.

PSG took advantage of their early possession just six minutes in when Dembele’s corner was flicked towards the back post by Desire Doue and Barcola was quick to nod the ball past goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow.

Stuttgart had their first chance of the game when Fuhrich burst into space and cut into the box, but his effort from a tight angle was easily saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma at the near post.

Fuhrich tested the goalkeeper again just moments later as Donnarumma made a diving stop to palm the winger’s strong shot away.

PSG immediately doubled their lead in the 17th minute stemming from Barcola’s quick break down the left flank and he played a low pass across the box for Dembele, who smashed a first-time strike in at the back post. The goal stood, following a lengthy VAR check for offside.

In an identical move, the visitors almost had a third as Barcola sprinted down the left, playing a low cross into Doue at the back post and Bredlow scrabbled to keep the shot out, with goalline technology confirming that the ball was kept out by a whisker.

However, PSG did not have to wait long as they extended their lead in the 35th minute when Doue played the ball out wide to Dembele, who cut in and fired a powerful shot into the far side of the net.

Dembele completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute after an intricate move on the edge of the box saw the forward pick up the ball and curl it into the corner.

Although the game settled down, the visitors looked to extend their advantage as Bredlow made a save from Doue and a menacing break from Barcola was soon stopped by the Stuttgart defence.

The hosts were nearly punished for another low pass across the face of goal, but Fabian Ruiz was unable to stab the ball home.

Stuttgart did manage a consolation goal in the 78th minute when Maximilian Mittelstadt’s pass was poked into the bottom corner by Fuhrich.