The Frenchman showed why he was so highly sought after earlier this year as he scored the first hat-trick between the sides in the league since 1966
Old Firm matches have the potential to make or break players at Celtic and Rangers. As the great Glasgow derby returned to the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, Moussa Dembele announced himself as the latest star at Parkhead by grabbing a hat-trick in a thumping 5-1 success - the first man to achieve the feat in a league match in half a century.
With Barcelona just around the corner in the Champions League, the Paris-born attacker gave manager Brendan Rodgers a major headache on the eve of the Camp Nou fixture by propelling his side into what proved an unassailable first-half advantage. First he headed powerfully home in off the post following a corner, then he left Philippe Senderos, later mindlessly sent off on his debut, sprawling helplessly before clipping a lovely finish by Wes Foderingham.
When the game was in the balance in the second half, the Frenchman was again decisive, playing a deft through pass that Scott Sinclair dispatched neatly. With barely five minutes left, he became the first player since Stevie Chalmers in 1966 to score an Old Firm hat-trick with a lovely piece on control matched by a cool finish.
The only goal Dembele was not involved in directly was Stuart Armstrong's in stoppage-time.
Joe Garner had pulled one back shortly before the interval with a header from point-blank range, but while that will serve to remind the Hoops of their defensive fragility before their trip to face Lionel Messi & Co. their immediate goal was achieved with a measure of comfort.
Remarkable as it may seem, there were still a handful of doubters concerned over the ability of the France Under-20 international to cut it for the Bhoys before the fixture. Indeed, had Leigh Griffiths proven his fitness, it is highly unlikely that the former Fulham player would even have started.
At times during his first month in Scotland, his form has been patchy, but when it has really counted, the 19-year-old has shown the form that saw Arsenal, Tottenham and Monaco all scrambling for his signature last January.
These moves never materialised and Rodgers was swift to pounce, making him his first arrival since taking on the role as Celtic boss. And Dembele has justified this faith, playing crucial roles in two of his side’s biggest games this season.
While his contribution in the win over Rangers on Saturday will linger longest in the memory, he also played a crucial role in firing his team to the Champions League, thereby setting up the forthcoming meeting with Barcelona. In the third qualifying round, with Celtic facing extra time against Astana, he embarked on a mazy dribble that won a penalty kick from which he was decisive.
Strong, quick and with a keen eye for goal, he is the class of player that Celtic’s ambitious appointment of Rodgers has allowed them to acquire.
“When you have a manager like Brendan who talks to you about the club and who convinces you to come, it's a massive thing,” he admitted upon signing for the Glasgow outfit.
As well as working with the Northern Irishman, also upon his checklist of reasons for moving north was the opportunity to play in the Champions League and win trophies.
He will likely be able to tick off the former at Camp Nou, while Celtic’s convincing success at Parkhead suggests that their domestic dominance is not about to end any time soon, despite the return of their great rivals.
No comments:
Post a Comment