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“It’s a mix of beauty and frustration,” says the team's head coach. The PSG boss has a complex relationship with how his team’s league matches develop. Whenever the Parisians play, one team attacks 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. While it differs from our philosophy, I comprehend and embrace it.”

Facing defensive teams is unavoidable for PSG; it's their constant situation, due to the skill gap created by financial imbalance. Their quality typically shines through and the low-block is unlocked with varying degrees of difficulty. However, this campaign has been more challenging.

Control of the Ball Yet Limited Output

PSG have averaged nearly three-quarters of possession in the French league so far this campaign. Facing Nice in their recent match, they had dominant ball control and made numerous passes, against just 182 for Nice. By half-time, the Portuguese midfielder had 90 contacts with the ball – only six less than the entire Nice team – but PSG struggled to make their domination tell. At halftime, the visiting team's defender, whose close-range effort was saved by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had come closest to scoring.

This match wasn't an exception. They had shared points in three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. They had 71% possession against their opponents, but were reliant on a late Mayulu leveler to salvage a point. And, despite having 77% of the ball against their midweek opponents in midweek, they found the net only once and were unable to win. Approximately 33% of the way into the season, PSG are ranked fifth for goals in Ligue 1 – behind several other French clubs.

Forward Line Issues

This stems from the unique approach that PSG receive, but also indicates a real issue. Their goal scorers are underperforming. Their star forward's 29 strikes last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the European Cup; Another attacker scored 14 occasions in the league; Another offensive player hit 16 in all competitions; and Their winter signing scored several times after his January move.

Dembélé won the golden ball and, while it is debatable that the French star is indeed the global standout, it is difficult to argue that he was not the best player of the 2024-25 campaign. He's recorded merely five scores in 12 appearances this season. He suffered a hamstring injury while on country representation in September, which led to a conflict between PSG and the national squad that has seen the connection between club and country deteriorate. Dembélé missed around a month and a half of action as a result, but he appears below his best. Following the victory against Nice, he was seen touching his muscle. “It's very painful,” he told club colleague.

Player Availability

Their manager says Dembélé will be fit to face their European opponents this week in the Champions League but, while he gets back up to speed, squad members need to perform. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The young attacker was also hurt in September. He was recovering to his best when he was struck down with another muscle issue, which is projected to sideline him until next month. Their winger 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 games and is in a goal drought. A player who scores in bursts, the scoring will surely resume, but he shouldn't be relied upon to be the goalscorer in this expensively assembled PSG attack.

The Portuguese striker got the decisive goal against Nice but will he keep his place in the team?

This was the role assigned to their striker when he joined in recently. The international forward hit the century of 100 matches for PSG against Nice, but he has been a substitute in more than half of those appearances. Having scored nearly half his total after entering as a replacement, he has clearly taken on the role of the “super-sub”, partially due to his limited contribution when picked, but mainly owing to his manager’s reluctance to begin with a out-and-out forward. “How come I score frequently as a substitute? Well, simply because I'm substituted in more often than I begin games,” remarked Ramos after the match.

Decisive Period

As scoring has decreased across the forward line, his late decisive goal has given his boss decisions to make. Their number nine was unsuccessful with earlier attempts before converting his next and securing the victory, but the fact that their prime opportunities fell to him is revealing. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were acquiring when they invested €65m. “He's a crucial squad member for us because he is continuously available for every match, even if he begins on the bench,” said the manager. “Even brief appearances from Gonçalo are quality minutes.” 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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