Dembélé scores twice and playfully taunts Kvaratskhelia, left on the bench all evening
Starting and decisive against Slovan Bratislava (6-1) on Wednesday in the Champions League, Ousmane Dembélé scored a brace and provided two assists before gently ribbing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who remained on the bench throughout the match.
Ousmane Dembélé launched his Champions League season with a brace of goals and assists in PSG’s victory over Slovan Bratislava (6-1) on Wednesday evening at Parc des Princes. Substituted to a standing ovation shortly after the hour mark, the French forward then joined the bench where Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had been waiting since kick-off.
That’s when Dembélé turned to the Georgian winger with a mischievous smile: “You’re not coming on?” The exchange, captured on video and widely shared on social media, illustrates a serene atmosphere in the Paris dressing room.
Luis Enrique had made the bold choice to do without Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué for this first European outing of the season. A deliberate decision: with PSG quickly establishing control, the Spanish coach preferred to manage his two attacking recruits and give playing time to players less used since the start of the campaign.
With this emphatic victory, PSG begins its Champions League campaign on a convincing note, driven notably by a Dembélé in fine form, decisive across all attacking areas.
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