Stade Brest 0-3 PSG: Achraf Hakimi shines in PSG's dominant win

Achraf Hakimi scored a first half brace as PSG eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Stade Brest – a result that sees them temporarily return to the top of Ligue Un. Stade Brest never really tested the Parisians, although Romain Del Castillo did fire a second half penalty over the crossbar. Desiré Doué added a third goal in late stoppage time as PSG broke away.

Achraf Hakimi shines as PSG dominate Brest

The game started tentatively, with the first twenty-five minutes seeing very little in the way of clear cut opportunities, Senny Mayulu perhaps coming closest to opening the scoring with a shot that tested Radosław Majecki, the Stade Brest 29 goalkeeper.

PSG eventually opened the scoring after 28 minutes Vitinha picked out Hakimi with a delightful chipped ball, and the Moroccan international slipped the ball into the back of Majecki’s net.

Hakimi’s second came ten minutes later, as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia played him in after some great work, leaving him to apply a simple finish past the hapless goalkeeper. The full back has been in fine attacking form this season, with this brace adding to the three assists he already has accumulated, all in the Champions League.

Brest did show some urgency to break their way back into the game, with Pathe Mboup heading on target just before the break. Indeed, ten minutes into the second half, a long VAR check concluded with Brest being awarded a penalty, which was comically ballooned over the bar by Romain Del Castillo. It was an attempt that rather summed up Brest’s day in front of goal.

This woeful miss seemed to deflate the home time, with PSG regaining momentum and managing to pass Brest to death, maintaining the ball efficiently and without looking particularly troubled. Enrique was able to rest both Kvaratskhelia and Pacho, introducing the recently returned Dembélé and Doué, for whom it proved a useful run out after their injury absences. Dembélé found himself in shooting positions on two occasions in the final fifteen minutes, but was unable to find the range that led him to score 21 times in the league during the last campaign.

Doué also came close, with a curling effort hitting the post in stoppage time, before finally putting the seal on the game with a late left footed finish – it’s been a fine return from injury from the young star, who adds to his midweek brace vs Bayern Leverkusen with this goal off the bench.

Youngster Quentin Ndjantou made another cameo appearance for the final fifteen minutes, replacing fellow academy graduate Senny Mayulu. Enrique has often stressed the importance of PSG’s academy players being integrated over the last few weeks, and he has mostly proven to back up these words with action – although PSG’s injury crisis may have forced his hand at times.

PSG fans will be further buoyed by a fine save made my Lucas Chevalier towards the end of the match, as the newly signed French shot stopper saved a one on one effort from Mama Balde, a moment that will be relief for supporters after the not inconsiderable scrutiny on the keeper in recent weeks. It was arguably his best save so far in a PSG shirt, and combined with the clean sheet that he secured, it will be a great confidence booster for the young keeper.

All in all, it represented a routine win for the European Champions, who now look forwards to a midweek league clash against Lorient in which they will hope to continue this positive domestic form.