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“The situation is both pleasing and irritating,” states Luis Enrique. The PSG boss has a tricky relationship with how his squad's league matches play out. Whenever the Parisians play, one team goes forward and the other sits back. “I like attacking a low block,” he insists. “I have the most experience with this tactical scenario. I respect opponents' playing styles. Though unconventional compared to our style, I acknowledge and welcome it.”

Accepting low blocks is unavoidable for PSG; it's their constant situation, because of the quality difference created by budget inequality. Their talent usually tells and the low-block is unlocked with varying degrees of difficulty. But it has been tougher this season.

Control of the Ball However Insufficient Output

PSG have averaged nearly three-quarters of possession in Ligue 1 so far this season. Facing Nice in their recent match, they had dominant ball control and made numerous passes, compared to just 182 for Nice. By half-time, their playmaker had 90 touches of the ball – merely six short than the complete opposition side – but PSG failed to convert their control. When the whistle blew for the interval, Nice defender Juma Bah, whose header was cleared off the line by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had nearly scored.

This performance wasn't isolated. They had shared points in three out of four Ligue 1 games. They had 71% possession against Strasbourg, but were reliant on a last-minute Senny Mayulu equaliser to earn a draw. Although possessing 77% of the ball against Lorient 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 ranked fifth for goals in Ligue 1 – behind multiple domestic rivals.

Strike Force Struggles

It is a result of the special treatment that PSG attract, but also reflects a serious concern. Their attackers are struggling. The French international's 29 goals last season aided in securing Ligue 1 and the continental trophy; Another attacker scored 14 times in the league; Désiré Doué hit 16 across all tournaments; and Their winter signing scored eight after his January move.

Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or and, while it is contestable that the national team player is indeed the global standout, it is hard to dispute that he was not the top performer of the last season. He's managed only five scores in 12 appearances this season. He suffered a hamstring injury while on country representation in last month, which led to a blame game between PSG and the French federation that has seen the ties between both parties decline. He was unavailable for around several weeks of action as a result, but he still doesn’t look right. Post-match against their rivals, he was seen touching his muscle. “The pain is intense,” he told fellow player Hakimi.

Injury Concerns

Their manager says the forward should be available to face Bayern Munich this week in the European competition but, while he returns to full fitness, squad members need to perform. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The promising talent was also hurt in recently. He was returning to his best when he was suffered another leg problem, which is projected to sideline him until next month. The Georgian is a valuable player to his team but he often excels mainly for the crucial games in the continental competition; he is still without a goal in Ligue 1 this season. Barcola, PSG’s leading marksman in all competitions this season, has just a single strike in his last eight matches and is in a goal drought. 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.

Their center forward got the decisive goal against Nice but will he remain in the lineup in the team?

That was the job given to Gonçalo Ramos when he joined in 2023. Their number nine reached the milestone of 100 matches for PSG against Nice, but he has come off the bench in the majority of those appearances. With nearly half his total after being introduced from the bench, he has very much assumed the role of the “impact player”, partially due to his lack of impact when picked, but primarily because of his manager’s reluctance to start with a traditional striker. “How come I score frequently as a substitute? Well, simply because my appearances are mainly from the bench,” joked Ramos after the match.

Critical Moment

As scoring has decreased across the frontline, the match-winning strike has given his manager food for thought. The centre-forward failed to convert several opportunities before converting his next and securing the victory, but the fact that their prime opportunities came to him is revealing. He's a natural goal scorer and that is what PSG were acquiring when they invested €65m. “He's a crucial squad member 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 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

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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