PARIS — Ousmane Dembele has started 2025 as he intends to continue, with three goals in two games for Paris Saint-Germain’s first trophy of the new year, as well as a sustained seven-point lead at the Championnat summit ahead of Olympique de Marseille . The France international scored the only goal of the match as Luis Enrique’s side beat AS Monaco 1-0 to win the Trophee des Champions in Qatar, before scoring both in a 2-1 success for PSG at home to AS on Sunday Saint Etienne.
Dembele and Les Parisiens left it late against Les Monegasques to claim victory in Doha, but struck early against Les Verts to ensure Eirik Horneland’s determined visitors could come away from the Parc des Princes with nothing. The former Barcelona man’s finish against Monaco was simple enough – although you can never be sure of anything in front of goal with the Frenchman – but his opener against Saint-Etienne was an excellent left-footed effort that came in from wide on the right. before commuting a fine.
“Yes, it was an important victory to keep our distance at the top of Ligue 1,” Dembélé said afterwards. “We didn’t make it easy for ourselves at the end of the game. They were pushing and playing their game that wasn’t meant to defend. We had quite a bit of space and I think we could have scored two or three more goals “We are happy with the three points. No, this is not a new version of me, I have always been like this. Now that things are taking shape, it is good and we will try to continue like this.”
There is no doubt that Dembele is PSG’s man of 2025 after just two games so far and that is encouraging news for head coach Luis Enrique, who knows his team face some challenging assignments in the coming weeks, most notably Manchester City at home to UEFA . Champions League. The 27-year-old came into his own in the latter stages of last season in Europe – particularly in two games against Barcelona – and the Spanish tactician will be hoping for more of that against City and VfB Stuttgart to progress in the competition. phase.
“It’s important for us and ideal when a player like Ousmane scores two goals,” Luis Enrique said after the match after seeing his team let Zuriko Davitashvili score a brilliant free-kick to give Paris the second-half victory in the capital sweating. “But I think about all the players in the team, because we are a team. The most important thing is that we are all together and that is important to me.”
Such a focused Dembele is a huge boost considering the difficulties in the first half of the season with the likes of the former Stade Rennais man, who contributed to their slow start in the UCL as he was left out of the defeat at Arsenal due a late arrival for pre-match training. Extend his form in the last five games, scoring six goals from those matches against Monaco and Saint-Etienne, as well as single goals against ASM and Olympique Lyonnais.
With Dembele showing great game appetite and Luis Enrique carefully managing the minutes of some of his star players ahead of five more games this month and a potentially packed February that could also see knockout football in the Champions League, PSG has the momentum on their side. Whether that will be enough against City and Stuttgart will depend not only on Dembele, but he is capable of changing games and making a difference for Paris and he has shown lately that he is willing to do so when his team needs him most needs.