Dembélé's Double Fires PSG Four Points Clear – Toulouse Test Passed Before Liverpool Looms

Imagine PSG turning up at the Parc des Princes with their minds half on Liverpool in the Champions League quarters, just five days out. Luis Enrique probably fancied rotating the squad for this Ligue 1 filler – their first league outing in a fortnight, and the last before another break. But nope, injuries to the likes of Senny Mayulu and Bradley Barcola forced the big guns out, turning what could’ve been a breather into a proper scrap against Toulouse.

A Gritty Grind at the Parc

Ousmane Dembélé was the hero, bagging a brace to send PSG four points clear atop Ligue 1. The French winger opened the scoring midway through the first half with a sublime volley – chesting down a cleared cross and smashing it top bins for his ninth league goal. Pure class, like he’d been waiting two weeks just to audition that finish.

Toulouse, sneaking back into Europe’s conversation with back-to-back wins pre-break, hit back sharpish. Matvey Safonov had a howler, misjudging a long ball that forced Willian Pacho into a corner concession. From the set-piece, Nicolaisen looped a header home. Keeper error? Understatement of the season – Safonov’s 4/10 rating tells the tale.

PSG weren’t fazed. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – yes, that Kvaratskhelia, pulling strings up top – nodded on a corner for Dembélé to tap in at the far post. Nearly a hat-trick early doors after the break, but the linesman’s flag had the final say on an offside prowl. Toulouse dug in deep, boss Carlos Martínez Novell parking the bus against the in-form front three, limiting PSG to scraps early on.

The second half? A bit of a snoozefest, if we’re honest. Toulouse couldn’t string passes together in the final third, resorting to hopeful long-rangers that Guillaume Restes barely noticed. PSG eased off the gas, no urgency needed with the game in the bag – until the cavalry arrived.

Subs Seal It, Ratings Reveal the Drama

With 15 minutes left, João Neves shook off an ankle knock for a welcome return, and Gonçalo Ramos popped up for his late cameo. The Portuguese poacher swept home the third in stoppage time, a beauty into the far corner. 3-1 final whistle – job done, four-point cushion locked in.

Player ratings paint the picture of a functional but far-from-vintage PSG:

PSG Standouts:

• Ousmane Dembélé: 8 – Two goals, constant menace.

• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: 7 – Assist and all-round trickery.

• Achraf Hakimi: 6, Willian Pacho: 6, Lucas Beraldo: 6 (midfield experiment worked).

Lowlights: Matvey Safonov: 4 (that equaliser), Ilya Zabarnyi: 5, Lucas Hernandez: 5.

Toulouse Notes: Guillaume Restes: 5, Djibril Sidibé: 5, Cristian Cásseres: 6 – solid but toothless.

Lucas Beraldo slotting into midfield was a quirky Enrique tweak, and it held firm despite the mini-crisis. Toulouse missed Charlie Cresswell (hamstring) and Santiago Hidalgo (banned), which didn’t help their fightback.

Perfect Prep for Anfield Trip?

This wasn’t poetry, but it’s points in the bank – PSG top of the league, breathing room before the Liverpool first leg. Dembélé’s on fire, Neves is back, and Enrique’s got rotation options now. Toulouse? Back to the drawing board, their European dream on hold.

As reported by R Jucobin at Get French Football News from the Parc des Princes. Cheers for the dispatch, mate – keeps us punters informed while we neck a pint.