Dembélé produces another masterpiece as PSG’s all-round leader chasing another golden spring | OneFootball

Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembélé ignited the Parc des Princes, scoring twice and setting up another as Paris Saint-Germain edged Bayern 5-4 in Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg, directly involved in four of the five goals.

After a glaring miss against Manuel Neuer in the 23rd minute, he won a generous penalty and took responsibility from the spot, then supplied a pinpoint corner for Neves to head in for 2-1 on 34 minutes. Remarkably, five first-half goals were recorded in a Champions League semi-final for the first time, and PSG became the first side to score three before the break at this stage since Real Madrid in 2013-14 against Bayern.

Dembélé’s second-half clarity was just as striking. He picked out Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia unmarked at the far post for 4-2 on 56 minutes, before adding PSG’s fifth with a cool finish three minutes later as the stadium roared his name.

This was not the flamboyant dribbler of old but a clinical, all-court leader. Asked to perform an individual job on Aleksandar Pavlovic, he embraced the task, his pressing under Luis Enrique creating platforms for attacks. Despite only 27 touches, his output was ruthless.

Already excellent against Chelsea and Liverpool, with three goals across those ties, he now has 6 in this European campaign. The way PSG’s staff have managed him in 2026 has underpinned a resurgence that matches his talent.

If the run ends as it did last year, in Budapest on 30 May, Dembélé could even dream of back-to-back Ballons d'Or, joining Cruyff, Van Basten, Platini, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi among the legends.

Source: L'Équipe