Dembele nets hattrick as Stuttgart bow out of Champions League
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A much-expected raucous atmosphere inside MHPArena set the stage, however, Stuttgart endured a nightmare start. Just six minutes in, Bradley Barcola capitalised on a flicked overhead pass from Desire Doue to head into an empty net, punishing the hosts for conceding a soft set piece after a sloppy pass from skipper Atakan Karazor.
Struggling to gain any meaningful possession, Stuttgart had a rare big chance through Chris Führich, only for Donnarumma to produce a brilliant save. PSG immediately countered, with Barcola turning provider for Ousmane Dembélé at the back post. Initially ruled offside, a lengthy VAR check confirmed the goal, doubling the visitors' lead.
PSG's relentless pressure continued, and in the 31st minute, Doue nearly made it 3-0 in a near-identical move, but Fabian Bredlow pulled off a stunning save to keep Stuttgart in it for the time being, as just minutes later, Dembélé twisted and turned before unleashing a superb right-footed strike into the top corner, extending PSG’s advantage.
A dismal first half for Stuttgart left the hosts with a lot to ponder at the break, and proceedings would not get any better for Die Schwaben, as less than ten minutes into the second half, Dembele completed his hattrick with another fantastic finish into the top corner, this time with his right foot after some more fantastic link-up play in and around the box.
A touch inside the box from Chris Führich saw the hosts claw one back in the 77th minute, the goal understandably however, proved to be too little too late for VfB, with the encounter ending with one final cacophony of noise emerging from Cannstatter Kurve in the Champions League this season.
Overall, Stuttgart supporters alike will be left with the feeling of ‘what if’. Alongside a fantastic away win against Juventus, a scintillating 5-1 thrashing of Young Boys, and a recent away win in Bratislava, a torrid 5-1 defeat at the hands of Red Star Belgrade and a frustrating 1-1 draw against Sparta Prague left Die Schwaben with a lot to do entering tonights clash.
Sebastian Hoeneß's men bow out of the Champions League after falling to a scintillating PSG side. Attentions now turn back to the Bundesliga, with Stuttgart hosting Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday.
