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“The situation is both pleasing and irritating,” says Luis Enrique. The Paris Saint-Germain manager has a tricky relationship with how his club's league matches unfold. Whenever the Parisians play, one team goes forward and the other sits back. “I enjoy facing defensive setups,” he asserts. “This is the game situation I know best. 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, because of the quality difference created by economic disparity. Their talent usually tells and the defensive wall is broken with mixed ease. Yet this term has proven more difficult.

Dominant Possession However Limited Results

The French champions have recorded over 72% ball control in Ligue 1 so far this term. Versus Nice last weekend, they had 76.5% of the ball and made 760 passes, versus just under 200 for their opponents. At the interval, their playmaker had 90 contacts with the ball – only six less than the whole Nice squad – but PSG couldn't translate superiority into goals. At halftime, the visiting team's defender, whose close-range effort was saved by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had been the most dangerous.

This match wasn't an exception. PSG had drawn three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. They had 71% possession against the visiting team, but were reliant on a dying moments tying goal from Mayulu to earn a draw. Even with dominant control against another French side in midweek, they found the net only once and were ultimately held to a draw. Approximately 33% of the way into the season, PSG are just fifth in scoring in Ligue 1 – behind Marseille, Lille, Monaco and Strasbourg.

Attacking Unit Struggles

This reflects the unique approach that PSG garner, but also reflects a real issue. Their attackers are struggling. The French international's 29 goals last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the continental trophy; Another attacker scored 14 goals in the league; Désiré Doué hit 16 across all tournaments; and The Georgian international scored eight goals after his mid-season arrival.

Dembélé won the prestigious award and, while it is arguable that the France international is indeed the global standout, it is hard to dispute that he was not the best player of the previous term. He's managed only five strikes in 12 appearances this season. He encountered a muscle problem while on country representation in September, which gave rise to a conflict between PSG and the French federation that has seen the relationship between the two institutions decline. The player was absent for around several weeks of action as a result, but he hasn't fully recovered. After the win over Nice, he was seen clutching his hamstring. “It hurts so much,” he told fellow player Hakimi.

Injury Concerns

Luis Enrique says Dembélé will be fit to face Bayern Munich this week in the continental tournament but, while he regains his form, squad members need to perform. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The promising talent was also injured in the same month. He was returning to his best when he was affected by another thigh injury, which is likely to keep him out until the new year. The Georgian is a valuable player to his team but he often reserves his top displays for the important matches in the European stage; he is still without a goal in Ligue 1 this season. Their current top scorer, PSG’s highest goal-getter in all competitions this season, has just one score in his last eight appearances and is in a dry spell. A player who scores in bursts, the scoring will surely resume, but he shouldn't be relied upon to be the goalscorer in this high-priced 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 joined in 2023. Their number nine reached the milestone of 100 games for PSG against Nice, but he has been a substitute in the majority of those appearances. With nearly half his total after entering as a replacement, he has very much assumed the role of the “super-sub”, partly because of his limited contribution when selected, but mainly owing to his coach's hesitation to begin with a conventional No 9. “What explains my bench scoring record? Well, simply because my appearances are mainly from the bench,” joked Ramos after the match.

Turning Point

With their attack struggling across the forward line, his late decisive goal has given his manager food for thought. The striker failed to convert several opportunities before taking his fourth and deciding the game, but the fact that their prime opportunities fell to him is significant. His finishing is instinctive and that is what PSG were acquiring when they invested €65m. “He is a very important player for us because he is continuously available for every match, whether he starts or not,” said the manager. “Even brief appearances from Gonçalo are productive periods.” It may be time for the super-sub to play a major part.

French League 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

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
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