PSG demolish Brest in 1st leg of UCL playoffs

Paris Sainte-German made light work on Ligue 1 rivals Brest in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League with a 3-0 victory away from home.

The Ligue 1 champions practically already secured their spot in the Champions League last 16  courtesy of this first-leg away win.

PSG secured victory through a penalty from Vitinha and another brace from Ousmane Dembélé to take a hefty lead before next week’s return leg at Parc des Princes.

Le Parisien made their intention known with early dominance, but they struggled to break open a tight Brest back four.

The hosts almost scored as they went close after a typical nervy Champions League knockout moment from Gianluigi Donnarumma as his clearance bounced off Ludovic Ajorque and then wide.

The Paris club eventually broke the deadlock from the spot. Vitinha’s shot was parried away by Marco Bizot, and Ousmane Dembélé was in hand to net the rebound, but Pierre Lees-Melou handled his goalward attempt. After the VAR called the referee to the on-pitch monitor,  he awarded PSG a penalty. The Portuguese midfielder stepped up to open the goals chart.

Brest, in search of an equalizer, gave their opponents a lot to worry about, but luck wasn’t on their side as Abdallah Sima struck Donnarumma’s left post from a corner.

 Achraf Hakimi almost conceded a comedy own-goal when he found the Italian goalie’s right post in rushing his clearance. 

Dembele has been a savior for PSG. The French winger, when called duly delivered again. He made it two for the guests in the final minute of the first half as he made his way into the Brest penalty box to thwart Bizot with a powerful near-post effort.

In the second half, PSG continued from where they stopped as Désiré Doué had the ball in the net to make it three, but Bradley Barcola was marginally offside in the build-up.

PSG eventually got the third as Dembélé again found the back of the net. The ball got to him from Barcola’s deflected shot to bag his brace.