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“It’s a mix of beauty and frustration,” states Luis Enrique. The French club's coach has a complex relationship with how his team’s league matches develop. When PSG are involved, one team goes forward and the other sits back. “Breaking down deep defenses appeals to me,” he asserts. “This is the game situation I know best. I appreciate the diversity of football approaches. While it differs from our philosophy, I comprehend and embrace it.”

Dealing with deep defenses isn’t really a choice for PSG; it's their constant situation, due to the talent imbalance created by budget inequality. Their quality typically shines through and the low-block is unlocked with varying degrees of difficulty. However, this campaign has been more challenging.

Dominant Possession But Limited Output

PSG have averaged nearly three-quarters of possession in France's top flight so far this term. Against Nice on Saturday, they had 76.5% of the ball and made 760 passes, against just under 200 for their opponents. Before the break, the Portuguese midfielder had 90 touches of the ball – only six less than the entire Nice team – but PSG struggled to make their domination tell. When the first period ended, the visiting team's defender, whose close-range effort was saved by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had nearly scored.

This match wasn't an exception. They had shared points in 75% of their recent Ligue 1 games. They had 71% possession against Strasbourg, but were dependent on a late tying goal from Mayulu to salvage a point. And, despite having dominant control against their midweek opponents in midweek, they found the net only once and were finally tied. Nearly a third of the way into the season, PSG are only the fifth top scorers in Ligue 1 – behind several other French clubs.

Attacking Unit Struggles

This reflects the particular attention that PSG garner, but also shows a genuine problem. Their forwards are not scoring. Ousmane Dembélé’s 29 scores last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the Champions League; A young forward scored 14 goals in the league; Désiré Doué hit 16 across all tournaments; and The Georgian international scored eight after his mid-season arrival.

The forward claimed the golden ball and, while it is debatable that the national team player 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 recorded merely five scores in 12 matches this season. He encountered a hamstring injury while on country representation in early autumn, which led to a dispute between PSG and the France team that has seen the connection between club and country deteriorate. The player was absent for around a month and a half of action as a result, but he appears below his best. After the win over Nice, he was seen clutching his hamstring. “It hurts so much,” he told club colleague.

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, other players have to step up. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The former Rennes forward was also hurt in recently. He was returning to his best when he was affected by another muscle issue, which is projected to sideline him until January. The Georgian is a important contributor to his team but he often excels mainly for the big occasions in the European stage; he is still without a goal in Ligue 1 this season. Barcola, PSG’s highest goal-getter in all competitions this season, has just one goal in his last eight appearances and is in a fallow period. 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.

The Portuguese striker got the decisive goal against Nice but will he remain in the lineup in the team?

These were the expectations handed to their striker when he arrived in 2023. Their number nine hit the century of 100 games for PSG against Nice, but he has started on the sidelines in over 50% of those appearances. With 18 of his 38 goals after being introduced from the bench, he has very much assumed the role of the “impact player”, somewhat owing to his lack of impact when starting, but mainly owing to his boss's unwillingness to start with a out-and-out forward. “Why do I score so many goals off the bench? Basically because I'm substituted in more often than I begin games,” quipped 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 was unsuccessful with earlier attempts before taking his fourth and winning the match, but the fact that their prime opportunities fell to him is significant. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were investing in when they made a significant investment. “He's a crucial squad member for us because he is continuously available for every match, regardless of his starting status,” said their coach. “Short cameos from the striker are quality minutes.” The moment might have come for the impact substitute to play a starring role.

French League 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

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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