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“It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” states Luis Enrique. The French club's coach has a complex relationship with how his squad's league matches develop. In PSG's matches, one team attacks and the other protects. “Breaking down deep defenses appeals to me,” he insists. “I have the most experience with this tactical scenario. I am very respectful of how other teams play. It is a different kind of football from ours, it’s atypical, but I understand and accept it.”

Accepting low blocks isn't optional for PSG; this is their regular experience, because of the quality difference created by budget inequality. Their quality typically shines through and the defensive wall is broken with different levels of challenge. However, this campaign has been more challenging.

Control of the Ball However Poor Returns

PSG have averaged 72.5% possession in the French league so far this season. Versus Nice last weekend, they had 76.5% of the ball and made over 750 passes, compared to just 182 for Nice. Before the break, their playmaker had 90 contacts with the ball – only six less than the complete opposition side – but PSG struggled to make their domination tell. At halftime, the visiting team's defender, whose close-range effort was saved by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had come closest to scoring.

And this game isn’t an outlier. PSG had drawn three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. With 71% ball control against Strasbourg, but were needing a dying moments Senny Mayulu equaliser to secure one point. Even with 77% of the ball against their midweek opponents in midweek, they managed just one goal and were finally tied. Almost one third of the way into the season, PSG are ranked fifth for goals in Ligue 1 – behind multiple domestic rivals.

Strike Force Problems

It is a result of the special treatment that PSG attract, but also reflects a genuine problem. Their attackers are struggling. The French international's 29 strikes last season helped PSG win Ligue 1 and the European Cup; A young forward scored 14 occasions in the league; Désiré Doué hit 16 total goals; and Kvaratskhelia scored eight goals after his mid-season arrival.

The forward claimed the Ballon d’Or and, while it is arguable that the France international is indeed the best player in the world, it is difficult to argue that he was not the top performer of the 2024-25 campaign. He's managed only five scores in 12 games this season. He experienced a thigh issue while on international duty in September, which gave rise to a conflict between PSG and the national squad that has seen the ties between both parties decline. Dembélé missed around several weeks of action as a result, but he still doesn’t look right. After the win over Nice, he was seen touching his muscle. “The pain is intense,” he told club colleague.

Fitness Issues

Luis Enrique says Dembélé will be fit to face the German giants this week in the continental tournament but, while he regains his form, teammates must contribute. It won’t be Doué. The young attacker was also sidelined in September. He was returning to his best when he was suffered another thigh injury, which is projected to sideline him until the new year. Kvaratskhelia is a valuable player to his team but he often excels mainly for the important matches in the European stage; he is yet to score in Ligue 1 this season. Barcola, PSG’s highest goal-getter in all competitions this season, has just a single strike in his last eight appearances and is in a fallow period. An attacker with hot streaks, the goals will undoubtedly return, but he shouldn't be relied upon to be the goalscorer in this expensively assembled PSG attack.

Gonçalo Ramos got the decisive goal against Nice but will he remain in the lineup in the team?

That was the job assigned to Gonçalo Ramos when he arrived in recently. The Portugal striker hit the century of 100 appearances for PSG against Nice, but he has started on the sidelines in the majority of those appearances. Recording 18 of his 38 goals after entering as a replacement, he has very much assumed the role of the “impact player”, partially due to his ineffectiveness when starting, but primarily because of his coach's hesitation to begin with a traditional striker. “What explains my bench scoring record? Basically because I come off the bench more than I start,” remarked Ramos after the match.

Critical Moment

With the goals drying up across the attacking unit, his late decisive goal has given his manager food for thought. The striker failed to convert several opportunities before scoring his final and winning the match, but the fact that PSG’s best chances were created for him is telling. His finishing is instinctive and that is what PSG were acquiring when they paid substantial money. “His role is vital for us because he is constantly prepared for every match, whether he starts or not,” said Luis Enrique. “Even brief appearances from Gonçalo are quality minutes.” Perhaps now is the opportunity for the super-sub to play a major part.

Ligue 1 Outcomes

• 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

Current Rankings

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
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