Dembele's scoring touch for PSG silences critics

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele is making scoring look so easy, when for so long it proved elusive.

Dembele is piling up the goals in a career-best season that has seen him silence critics who pointed to his wasteful finishing over the years.

He made it 23 so far this campaign, with two goals in PSG's 3-0 victory at Brest in the first leg of their Champions League playoff on Tuesday. That's already nine more goals than his previous best tally of 14 with Barcelona in 2018-19.

"The team has a good dynamic. Everyone is focused and playing really well, and that helps me to score goals if I am in the right positions," Dembele said.

"The players, whether it's Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue or Kvara (Khvicha Kvaratskhelia), give me great service."

Although Dembele played down his own importance, he has scored in 10 straight games for PSG, and is clearly now the team's leading player since Kylian Mbappe's offseason departure to Real Madrid.

"We are delighted that he is playing like this," Vitinha said. "We hope he continues as long as possible. It is a very big help for the team."

Dembele's first goal came in the 45th minute. Running onto a pass from Achraf Hakimi, Dembele sprinted down the right wing and, with the defense backing off, curled a shot inside the near post.

Earlier, it was his effort that led to PSG's 21st-minute opener, which came after midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou handled Dembele's shot and Vitinha scored from the ensuing penalty.

Midway through the second half, the 27-year-old Dembele showed a poacher's instinct for his second goal, latching onto a loose ball and bursting into the penalty area before clipping a shot into the left corner.

The France international has two hat-tricks this season, including one against Brest in a 5-2 win when the sides met in the French league recently. He has netted six goals in the Champions League, four with his right foot and two with his left.

PSG coach Luis Enrique said he is imposing no limits on how good Dembele can become as a scorer.

"Those of us who know Ousmane and see him train, right now we see he is full of confidence," Enrique said. "He was already good in 2024, and in 2025 he is even better. It is a pleasure for me when you have so many players who are full of confidence."

After the final whistle, Enrique lauded the forward, who has scored 18 goals in his last 11 matches.

"You'd have to ask him what he ate at Christmas," Enrique told reporters.

"Back when I played PlayStation as a kid, he was the kind of player you'd choose when you needed someone to change the game.

"You can see his teammates looking for him and finding him. He has an impeccable attitude."

While Dembele enjoyed a hatful of plaudits, PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma gave his critics more unnecessary ammunition with an early blunder that could have cost his team.

The Italy No 1 was under no pressure when he received a back pass from captain Marquinhos.

But Donnarumma kicked the ball straight at the head of striker Ludovic Ajorque a few meters away and was left looking on anxiously as the ball rolled narrowly wide of the goal.

With the home leg on Feb 19 looking like being smooth sailing, Enrique acknowledged PSG was in a good position to reach the competition's last 16.

"There is a consistency that makes the team better. Brest made us suffer. We defended well. Our team is built to attack. We are on a very good run," he said.

Despite his tally, Dembele was pragmatic. "We stayed focused from beginning to end and got the job done, but it is not over yet, so we need to remain focused to finish it off at the Parc des Princes.

Agencies