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“It’s a mix of beauty and frustration,” remarks the team's head coach. The French club's coach has a complex relationship with how his team’s league matches play out. When PSG are involved, one team goes forward and the other sits back. “I enjoy facing defensive setups,” he asserts. “It is the phase of play that I am most familiar with. I appreciate the diversity of football approaches. Though unconventional compared to our style, I acknowledge and welcome it.”

Accepting low blocks isn't optional for PSG; this is their regular experience, because of the skill gap created by budget inequality. Their talent usually tells and the defensive wall is broken with varying degrees of difficulty. But it has been tougher this season.

Game Dominance But Limited Output

The French champions have recorded 72.5% possession in the French league so far this campaign. Against Nice on Saturday, they had over 76% possession and made 760 passes, compared to just 182 for Nice. At the interval, the Portuguese midfielder had 90 contacts with the ball – only six less than the entire Nice team – but PSG struggled to make their domination tell. At halftime, the visiting team's defender, whose goal-bound attempt was blocked by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had been the most dangerous.

This match wasn't an exception. They had shared points in 75% of their recent Ligue 1 games. Dominating possession with 71% against their opponents, but were needing a dying moments tying goal from Mayulu to salvage a point. And, despite having 77% possession against their midweek opponents in midweek, they managed just one goal and were ultimately held to a draw. Nearly a third of the way into the season, PSG are only the fifth top scorers in Ligue 1 – behind several other French clubs.

Strike Force Struggles

This stems from the unique approach that PSG attract, but also reflects a serious concern. Their attackers are struggling. Ousmane Dembélé’s 29 scores last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the continental trophy; A young forward scored 14 times in the league; Another offensive player hit 16 in all competitions; and Kvaratskhelia scored several times after his January move.

He received the prestigious award and, while it is arguable that the France international is indeed the best player in the world, it is hard to dispute that he was not the best player of the 2024-25 campaign. He's managed only five scores in 12 matches this season. He experienced a hamstring injury while on country representation in early autumn, which led to a blame game between PSG and the French federation that has seen the relationship between the two institutions decline. He was unavailable for around a month and a half of action as a result, but he still doesn’t look right. Following the victory against Nice, he was seen clutching his hamstring. “It's very painful,” he told teammate Achraf Hakimi.

Player Availability

Their manager says Dembélé will be fit to face the German giants this week in the Champions League but, while he gets back up to speed, other players have to step up. Sadly, Doué is unavailable. The former Rennes forward was also injured in the same month. He was recovering to his best when he was struck down with another muscle issue, which is expected to rule him out until next month. Kvaratskhelia is a important contributor to his team but he often excels mainly for the crucial games in the continental competition; he is yet to score in Ligue 1 this season. Their current top scorer, PSG’s top scorer in all competitions this season, has just a single strike in his last eight matches and is in a fallow period. A player who scores in bursts, the goals will undoubtedly return, but he can’t be expected to be the goalscorer in this high-priced PSG attack.

Gonçalo Ramos found the match-winner against Nice but will he maintain his position in the team?

That was the job given to their striker when he signed in 2023. Their number nine achieved the landmark of 100 games for PSG against Nice, but he has started on the sidelines in more than half of those appearances. Recording nearly half his total after coming on as a substitute, he has effectively embraced the role of the “finisher”, partly because of his ineffectiveness when starting, but primarily because of his boss's unwillingness to start 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 their attack struggling across the frontline, his late decisive goal has given his manager food for thought. Their number nine was unsuccessful with earlier attempts before taking his fourth and deciding the game, but the fact that PSG’s best chances came to him is revealing. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were buying when they invested €65m. “His role is vital for us because he is always ready for every match, even if he begins on the bench,” said Luis Enrique. “Even brief appearances from Gonçalo are valuable time.” The moment might have come for the impact substitute to play a leading part.

Ligue 1 Results

• 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

Table Position

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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