🔗 Share this article

“The situation is both pleasing and irritating,” states Luis Enrique. The French club's coach has a complex relationship with how his club's league matches develop. Whenever the Parisians play, one team attacks and the other protects. “Breaking down deep defenses appeals to me,” he maintains. “I have the most experience with this tactical scenario. I respect opponents' playing styles. It is a different kind of football from ours, it’s atypical, but I understand and accept it.”

Facing defensive teams is unavoidable for PSG; it is simply their reality, a result of the talent imbalance created by financial imbalance. Their talent usually tells and the defensive wall is broken with different levels of challenge. Yet this term has proven more difficult.

Dominant Possession Yet Poor Results

PSG have averaged 72.5% possession in France's top flight so far this season. Facing Nice in their recent match, they had 76.5% of the ball and made over 750 passes, versus just 182 for Nice. Before the break, Vitinha had numerous ball contacts – merely six short than the complete opposition side – but PSG couldn't translate superiority into goals. When the whistle blew for the interval, opposition defender Bah, whose goal-bound attempt was blocked by his teammate, had nearly scored.

This performance wasn't isolated. The Parisians had tied three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. With 71% ball control against their opponents, but were reliant on a dying moments tying goal from Mayulu to secure one point. Even with dominant control against Lorient in midweek, they found the net only once and were ultimately held to a draw. Nearly a third of the way into the season, PSG are ranked fifth for goals in Ligue 1 – after several other French clubs.

Attacking Unit Issues

It is a result of the special treatment that PSG receive, but also indicates a serious concern. Their attackers are struggling. Ousmane Dembélé’s 29 strikes last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the Champions League; A young forward scored 14 occasions in the league; The talented youngster hit 16 in all competitions; and Their winter signing scored several times after his January move.

Dembélé won the golden ball and, while it is debatable that the French star is indeed the global standout, it is hard to dispute that he was not the top performer of the 2024-25 campaign. He has just five goals in 12 matches this season. He encountered a hamstring injury while on international duty in last month, which led to a conflict between PSG and the France team that has seen the relationship between the two institutions decline. The player was absent for around a month and a half of action as a result, but he hasn't fully recovered. After the win over Nice, he was seen touching his muscle. “The pain is intense,” he told club colleague.

Player Availability

The PSG coach says their star can play to face the German giants this week in the Champions League but, while he returns to full fitness, other players have to step up. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The former Rennes forward was also hurt in September. He was just getting back to his best when he was struck down with another leg problem, which is projected to sideline him until January. Kvaratskhelia is a massive asset to his team but he often saves his best performances for the big occasions in the continental competition; he is still without a goal in Ligue 1 this season. Another forward, PSG’s highest goal-getter in all competitions this season, has just one goal in his last eight games and is in a dry spell. An attacker with hot streaks, the form will certainly come back, but he shouldn't be relied upon to be the goalscorer in this high-priced PSG attack.

Their center forward found the match-winner against Nice but will he maintain his position in the team?

This was the role given to Gonçalo Ramos when he arrived in recently. Their number nine reached the milestone of 100 matches for PSG against Nice, but he has been a substitute in more than half of those appearances. With nearly half his total after coming on as a substitute, he has very much assumed the role of the “finisher”, partly because of his limited contribution when starting, but primarily because of his boss's unwillingness to field a traditional striker. “Why do I score so many goals off the bench? The simple reason is I come off the bench more than I start,” remarked Ramos after the match.

Critical Moment

As scoring has decreased across the forward line, Ramos’ last-gasp winner has given his manager food for thought. The centre-forward missed three chances before scoring his final and securing the victory, but the fact that the team's clearest openings were created for him is revealing. His finishing is instinctive and that is what PSG were buying when they invested €65m. “He's a crucial squad member for us because he is always ready for every match, whether he starts or not,” said their coach. “Short cameos from the striker are valuable time.” It may be time for the super-sub to play a starring role.

Ligue 1 Matches

• Rennes 4-1 Strasbourg
• Lens 3-0 Lorient
• Lille 1-0 Angers
• Nantes 0-2 Metz
• Toulouse 0-0 Le Havre
• Brest 0-0 Lyon
• PSG 1-0 Nice
• Monaco 0-1 Paris FC
• Auxerre 0-1 Marseille

League Standings

Position	Team	Played	Goal Difference	Points
1	PSG	11	12	24
2	Marseille	11	14	22
3	Lens	11	7	22
4	Lille	11	10	20
5	Monaco	11	6	20
6	Lyon	11	4	20
7	Strasbourg	11	6	19
8	Nice	11	0	17
9	Toulouse	11	2	15
10	Rennes	11	1	15
11