Hirving Lozano earned a lot of praise for his defensive efforts during the World Cup with Mexico. Much of it was deserved as his tracking back was nearly as important as his goal against Germany. But on this Ousmane Dembele goal vs PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, Lozano was left grasping at air.
Barcelona led 1-0 at halftime thanks to a beautiful free kick from Lionel Messi. While Messi added two more to complete his hat trick, the second two came after Dembélé’s magnificent solo goal.
With the ball closer to the midfield line than the goal, Dembélé seemingly had nowhere to go with Lozano and Jorrit Hendrix surrounding him.
Then he was gone.
With one swift turn, Dembélé escaped his two PSV defenders and before anyone else could close down on him he curled in a perfectly placed shot leaving the keeper no chance.
74' Dembélé acaba de desquitar el sueldo del año: ¡GLAZ DEL BARÇA! @FCBarcelona 2-0 @PSV
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) September 18, 2018
Ousmane Dembélé doubles the lead for #Barça against #PSV with a sensational solo effort!!! Brilliant skill to split the two defenders, and then a fantastic strike from distance!#FCBPSV #FCBlive #UCL #Golazo pic.twitter.com/eeChorDQaS
— #ThankYouDeuce (@JogaBonito_USA) September 18, 2018
The Dembele goal vs PSV came in the 74th minute and three minutes later Messi scored his second and Barça’s third.
77' ¡DOBLETE PARA MESSI, LO HACE VER TAN FÁCIL ! @FCBarcelona 3-0 @PSV#BARPSV pic.twitter.com/8dUvLwDzD4
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) September 18, 2018
And for good measure here's Messi's third.
87' HAT-TRICK de MESSI
Así, sin mayor complicación : @FCBarcelona 4-0 @PSV#LaChampionsUD #BARPSV pic.twitter.com/oIEmJ5AC7M— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) September 18, 2018
It wasn’t all bad for Lozano, who was making his debut in the Champions League group stage. He drew a second yellow from Samuel Umtiti with a rampaging run in which the French defender stood in the Mexican winger’s path, throwing a heavy shoulder into Lozano’s chin.
Lozano’s compatriot, Érick Gutiérrez, also made his Champions League debut, coming on as a sub in the 82nd minute. The two former Pachuca players hooked up over the weekend for some quality goals.