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“The situation is both pleasing and irritating,” says the team's head coach. The PSG boss has a complicated relationship with how his team’s league matches develop. Whenever the Parisians play, one team goes forward and the other defends. “I like attacking a low block,” he maintains. “It is the phase of play that I am most familiar with. I respect opponents' playing styles. It is a different kind of football from ours, it’s atypical, but I understand and accept it.”

Accepting low blocks is unavoidable for PSG; it is simply their reality, a result of the quality difference created by financial imbalance. Their quality typically shines through and the resistance is overcome with mixed ease. However, this campaign has been more challenging.

Game Dominance But Poor Returns

The Parisians have maintained nearly three-quarters of possession in the French league so far this term. Against Nice on Saturday, they had over 76% possession and made 760 passes, compared to just under 200 for their opponents. At the interval, their playmaker had numerous ball contacts – just six fewer than the whole Nice squad – but PSG couldn't translate superiority into goals. When the first period ended, opposition defender Bah, whose close-range effort was saved by his teammate, had come closest to scoring.

This match wasn't an exception. PSG had drawn three out of four Ligue 1 games. Dominating possession with 71% against their opponents, but were needing a last-minute Mayulu leveler to salvage a point. Even with 77% possession against another French side 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 – after multiple domestic rivals.

Forward Line Problems

It is a result of the unique approach that PSG garner, but also reflects a serious concern. Their goal scorers are underperforming. Their star forward's 29 scores last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the European Cup; Bradley Barcola scored 14 goals in the league; Désiré Doué hit 16 across all tournaments; and The Georgian international scored eight goals after his January move.

The forward claimed the golden ball and, while it is arguable that the French star is indeed the world's top footballer, it is challenging to deny that he was not the best player of the 2024-25 campaign. He has just five scores in 12 appearances this season. He encountered a muscle problem while on international duty in last month, which caused a conflict between PSG and the French federation that has seen the connection between club and country decline. The player was absent for around six weeks of action as a result, but he appears below his best. After the win over Nice, he was seen touching his muscle. “The pain is intense,” he told club colleague.

Injury Concerns

Their manager says the forward should be available to face the German giants this week in the Champions League but, while he returns to full fitness, teammates must contribute. Sadly, Doué is unavailable. The former Rennes forward was also injured in recently. He was recovering to his best when he was struck down with another thigh injury, which is expected to rule him out until next month. Their winger is a valuable player to his team but he often reserves his top displays for the important matches in the Champions League; he is yet to score in Ligue 1 this season. Their current top scorer, PSG’s highest goal-getter in all competitions this season, has just one goal in his last eight games and is in a fallow period. An attacker with hot streaks, the scoring will surely resume, but he can’t be expected to be the goalscorer in this expensively assembled PSG attack.

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

That was the job handed to their striker when he signed in 2023. Their number nine reached the milestone of 100 matches for PSG against Nice, but he has been a substitute in over 50% of those appearances. With nearly half his total after entering as a replacement, he has very much assumed the role of the “impact player”, somewhat owing to his lack of impact when selected, but primarily because of 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,” joked Ramos after the match.

Turning Point

With their attack struggling across the attacking unit, Ramos’ last-gasp winner has given his boss decisions to make. The centre-forward was unsuccessful with earlier attempts before taking his fourth and deciding the game, but the fact that the team's clearest openings were created for him is significant. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were buying when they made a significant investment. “He is a very important player for us because he is always ready for every match, whether he starts or not,” said their coach. “Five minutes of Gonçalo on the pitch are valuable time.” The moment might have come for the bench specialist to play a major 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

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
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