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Report: Dembélé double puts Paris in semis

Ousmane Dembélé scored twice in the final 20 minutes to ensure Paris Saint-Germain reached the semi-finals again and dispel any lingering Liverpool hopes of a second-leg turnaround.

Key moments

6: Safonov claims Isak header

10: Mamardashvili swats Dembélé strike clear

16: Paris No10 hooks over

31: Marquinhos makes vital tackle on Van Dijk

44: Dembélé strike rustles sidenetting

49: Low Gakpo effort saved by Safonov

57: Kerkez sweeps wide of far post

71: Ngumoha forces Safonov into action

72: Dembélé opens scoring with fine low finish

90+1: Paris striker crowns victory after flowing move

Match in brief: Delicious Dembélé steers holders into semis

Arne Slot was able to start striker Alexander Isak for the first time since December, and it was the Swedish international who tested the visiting goalkeeper early on, nodding straight at Matvei Safonov from a Dominik Szoboszlai corner.

The holders upped their intensity, with Dembélé – scorer of the winning goal that forced penalties in last season's round of 16 second leg here – forcing Giorgi Mamardashvili into an unorthodox save before hooking over from close range six minutes later.

However, Paris were indebted to skipper Marquinhos shortly after the half-hour, the long-serving captain sliding in bravely to prevent Virgil van Dijk from slamming in the rebound following a fine reaction stop from Safonov.

The lively Dembélé almost edged the reigning champions in front with the interval approaching, but his first-time effort from a Mamardashvili punch flew into the sidenetting.

The hosts made an energetic start to the second period, substitutes Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha both testing Safonov. Less than 90 seconds after Ngumoha went close at one end, a piece of brilliance for their first attempt of the half put the tie beyond the Reds, Dembélé engineering the space to guide past Mamardashvili from just outside the penalty area.

That effectively thwarted any lingering Liverpool comeback ideas and Dembélé finished them off in added time, capping a flowing attack by Luis Enrique's men.

As it happened: Liverpool 0-2 Paris

PlayStation® Player of the Match: To follow

Matthew Howarth, match reporter

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Reaction

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Key stats

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Line-ups

Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Mac Allister; Ekitiké; Isak

Paris: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, João Neves; Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia

Fantasy star performers

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What's next?

Paris will meet the winners of the tie between Bayern München and Real Madrid.

The semi-final schedule can be found here.

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