🔗 Share this article

“It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” states Luis Enrique. The PSG boss has a tricky relationship with how his squad's league matches develop. Whenever the Parisians play, one team goes forward and the other protects. “I enjoy facing defensive setups,” he maintains. “I have the most experience with this tactical scenario. I am very respectful of how other teams play. Though unconventional compared to our style, I acknowledge and welcome it.”

Accepting low blocks is unavoidable for PSG; it is simply their reality, a result of the talent imbalance created by economic disparity. 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 Yet Limited Returns

PSG have averaged nearly three-quarters of possession in the French league so far this campaign. Against Nice on Saturday, they had 76.5% of the ball and made 760 passes, versus just Nice's 182. At the interval, Vitinha had numerous ball contacts – merely six short than the entire Nice team – but PSG failed to convert their control. When the whistle blew for the interval, opposition defender Bah, whose header was cleared off the line by a PSG player, had come closest to scoring.

And this game isn’t an outlier. The Parisians had tied three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. They had 71% possession against the visiting team, but were reliant on a last-minute Senny Mayulu equaliser to secure one point. And, despite having dominant control against their midweek opponents in midweek, they managed just one goal and were unable to win. Almost one third of the way into the season, PSG are ranked fifth for goals in Ligue 1 – behind Marseille, Lille, Monaco and Strasbourg.

Attacking Unit Problems

This stems from the unique approach that PSG garner, but also indicates a genuine problem. Their goal scorers are underperforming. Ousmane Dembélé’s 29 strikes last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the European Cup; Another attacker scored 14 goals in the league; Another offensive player hit 16 across all tournaments; and Their winter signing scored eight goals after his mid-season arrival.

The forward claimed the prestigious award and, while it is debatable that the national team player is indeed the world's top footballer, it is hard to dispute that he was not the best player of the previous term. He's managed only five scores in 12 appearances this season. He encountered a muscle problem while on international duty in early autumn, which led to a blame game between PSG and the French federation that has seen the connection between club and country deteriorate. The player was absent for around six weeks of action as a result, but he hasn't fully recovered. Post-match against their rivals, he was seen holding his thigh. “It hurts so much,” he told teammate Achraf Hakimi.

Injury Concerns

Luis Enrique says the forward should be available to face the German giants this week in the European competition but, while he regains his form, teammates must contribute. It won’t be Doué. The young attacker was also hurt in the same month. He was returning to his best when he was affected by another thigh injury, which is projected to sideline him until the new year. Kvaratskhelia is a valuable player to his team but he often saves his best performances for the important matches in the Champions League; he is goalless so far in Ligue 1 this season. Another forward, PSG’s top scorer in all competitions this season, has just one goal in his last eight appearances and is in a dry spell. Something of a purple-patch forward, the scoring will surely resume, but he isn't the solution to be the goalscorer in this high-priced PSG attack.

Their center forward scored the winner against Nice but will he keep his place in the team?

These were the expectations handed to the Portuguese when he arrived in 2023. The Portugal striker achieved the landmark of 100 games for PSG against Nice, but he has started on the sidelines in over 50% of those appearances. Recording a significant portion after entering as a replacement, he has clearly taken on the role of the “finisher”, partially due to his lack of impact when starting, but mainly owing to his coach's hesitation to field a conventional No 9. “Why do I score so many goals off the bench? Basically because my appearances are mainly from the bench,” joked 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. Their number nine missed three chances before converting his next and securing the victory, but the fact that the team's clearest openings came to him is significant. His finishing is instinctive and that is what PSG were buying when they invested €65m. “He is a very important player for us because he is constantly prepared for every match, whether he starts or not,” said their coach. “Even brief appearances from Gonçalo are valuable time.” It may be time for the impact substitute to play a leading part.

Domestic Competition 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

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
11