Ousmane Dembele is in the form of his life with his confidence typified by his astonishing penalty during PSG’s Champions League shootout win over Liverpool.
The France international scored his 21st goal of the calendar year in the 12th minute at Anfield, bundling home from close range after a defensive mix-up had presented him with an unmissable chance.
Despite both teams creating numerous chances to win the tie, an absorbing contest was eventually decided on penalties.
Dembele took his side’s third spot kick and looked as though he was lining up to strike the ball with his left foot.
As he neared the ball, however, the 27-year-old jumped across and change his angle of approach before comprehensively beating Alisson with a thumping right-footed effort.
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Fans were stunned by the winger’s audacious ambidexterity but long-time watchers of the enigmatic forward will know there was nothing unusual about the technique Dembele employed against Liverpool.
Indeed, a popular social media clip – that is again doing the rounds after his heroics at Anfield – shows a young Dembele, who was then playing for Rennes, explaining that he ‘shoots better’ with his right foot despite being predominately left footed.
It was a night of triumph for PSG who have so often flattered to deceive in Europe’s elite club competition.
With Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi all having departed in recent years, a team of superstars has given way to a squad bursting with emerging young talent.
The likes of Desire Doue, Joao Neves and Willian Pacho, to name but a few, all came of age and enhanced their burgeoning reputations on a landmark night at Anfield.
‘We showed that we are a real team,’ said PSG’s proud manager Luis Enrqie. ‘Is this team at its maximum? No.
‘It’s only the start. I think that our mentality is to be better.
‘Today, it was a very difficult match.
‘I think Liverpool are a very good team and it was very difficult to keep the ball but with the mentality and the personality.
‘Especially Gigio (Gianluigi Donarumma, who saved two penalties in the shoot-out) we managed to win the match.
‘We need to rest, recuperate, and continue the party.’