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“It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” remarks the PSG manager. The PSG boss has a complex relationship with how his club's league matches play out. When PSG are involved, one team attacks and the other defends. “I like attacking a low block,” he maintains. “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.”

Facing defensive teams isn't optional for PSG; it is simply their reality, because of the skill gap created by budget inequality. Their quality typically shines through and the defensive wall is broken with different levels of challenge. However, this campaign has been more challenging.

Dominant Possession But Insufficient Output

The Parisians have maintained 72.5% possession in the French league so far this campaign. Against Nice on Saturday, they had dominant ball control and made numerous passes, compared to just 182 for Nice. By half-time, their playmaker had numerous ball contacts – only six less than the entire Nice team – but PSG couldn't translate superiority into goals. When the whistle blew for the interval, Nice defender Juma Bah, whose close-range effort was saved by his teammate, had nearly scored.

And this game isn’t an outlier. They had shared points in three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. They had 71% possession against the visiting team, but were dependent on a last-minute Mayulu leveler to salvage a point. Even with dominant control against their midweek opponents in midweek, they only scored once and were ultimately held to a draw. Approximately 33% of the way into the season, PSG are ranked fifth for goals in Ligue 1 – behind Marseille, Lille, Monaco and Strasbourg.

Strike Force Issues

This reflects the particular attention that PSG receive, but also indicates a serious concern. Their goal scorers are underperforming. Ousmane Dembélé’s 29 scores last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the European Cup; Another attacker scored 14 occasions in the league; The talented youngster hit 16 across all tournaments; and Their winter signing scored several times after his winter transfer.

He received the Ballon d’Or and, while it is contestable that the French star is indeed the best player in the world, it is hard to dispute that he was not the top performer of the previous term. He's recorded merely five scores in 12 matches this season. He suffered a thigh issue while on national team service in September, which caused a blame game between PSG and the national squad that has seen the relationship between the two institutions decline. Dembélé missed around several weeks of action as a result, but he still doesn’t look right. Following the victory against Nice, he was seen holding his thigh. “The pain is intense,” he told club colleague.

Fitness Issues

Their manager says the forward should be available to face the German giants this week in the Champions League but, while he regains his form, squad members need to perform. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The former Rennes forward was also hurt in recently. He was recovering to his best when he was suffered another muscle issue, which is expected to rule him out until the new year. Their winger is a important contributor to his team but he often reserves his top displays for the big occasions in the Champions League; he is yet to score in Ligue 1 this season. Another forward, 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. A player who scores in bursts, the goals will undoubtedly return, but he isn't the solution to be the goalscorer in this high-priced PSG attack.

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

This was the role given to the Portuguese when he joined in 2023. Their number nine achieved the landmark of 100 appearances for PSG against Nice, but he has started on the sidelines in the majority of those appearances. Having scored a significant portion after being introduced from the bench, he has very much assumed the role of the “super-sub”, somewhat owing to his limited contribution when starting, but mostly due to his boss's unwillingness to begin with a out-and-out forward. “Why do I score so many goals off the bench? 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, Ramos’ last-gasp winner has given his boss decisions to make. The striker was unsuccessful with earlier attempts before converting his next and deciding the game, but the fact that PSG’s best chances came to him is telling. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were investing in when they invested €65m. “He is a very important player for us because he is always ready for every match, whether he starts or not,” said their coach. “Even brief appearances from Gonçalo are valuable time.” Perhaps now is the opportunity for the impact substitute to play a starring role.

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
11