🔗 Share this article

“It’s a mix of beauty and frustration,” states Luis Enrique. The Paris Saint-Germain manager has a complex relationship with how his squad's league matches develop. Whenever the Parisians play, one team attacks and the other defends. “I like attacking a low block,” he insists. “This is the game situation I know best. I am very respectful of how other teams play. It is a different kind of football from ours, it’s atypical, but I understand and accept it.”

Facing defensive teams is unavoidable for PSG; this is their regular experience, because of the skill gap created by economic disparity. Their talent usually tells and the resistance is overcome with varying degrees of difficulty. But it has been tougher this season.

Control of the Ball However Poor Results

PSG have averaged over 72% ball control in France's top flight so far this campaign. Facing Nice in their recent match, they had dominant ball control and made 760 passes, against just 182 for Nice. By half-time, Vitinha had 90 contacts with the ball – 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 goal-bound attempt was blocked by his teammate, had come closest to scoring.

This performance wasn't isolated. The Parisians had tied 75% of their recent Ligue 1 games. With 71% ball control against the visiting team, but were reliant on a dying moments tying goal from Mayulu to earn a draw. Although possessing 77% possession against Lorient in midweek, they only scored once and were unable to win. Approximately 33% of the way into the season, PSG are just fifth in scoring in Ligue 1 – after several other French clubs.

Forward Line Problems

This stems from the special treatment that PSG attract, but also reflects a real issue. Their attackers are struggling. Ousmane Dembélé’s 29 goals last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the European Cup; A young forward scored 14 occasions in the league; Désiré Doué hit 16 in all competitions; and The Georgian international scored eight goals after his mid-season arrival.

He received the prestigious award and, while it is arguable that the national team player is indeed the best player in the world, it is challenging to deny that he was not the top performer of the previous term. He has just five strikes in 12 games this season. He experienced a hamstring injury while on international duty in September, which gave rise to a dispute between PSG and the France team that has seen the connection between club and country worsen. The player was absent for around a month and a half of action as a result, but he still doesn’t look right. Following the victory against Nice, he was seen clutching his hamstring. “It's very painful,” he told fellow player Hakimi.

Injury Concerns

Their manager says their star can play to face their European opponents this week in the European competition but, while he gets back up to speed, squad members need to perform. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The young attacker was also sidelined in September. He was just getting back to his best when he was suffered another thigh injury, which is expected to rule him out until January. The Georgian is a massive asset to his team but he often saves his best performances for the important matches 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 matches and is in a dry spell. Something of a purple-patch forward, 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 maintain his position in the team?

This was the role given to their striker when he arrived in last year. The international forward reached the milestone of 100 games for PSG against Nice, but he has been a substitute in the majority of those appearances. With a significant portion after entering as a replacement, he has effectively embraced the role of the “super-sub”, somewhat owing to his lack of impact when selected, but mostly due to his coach's hesitation to field a conventional No 9. “Why do I score so many goals off the bench? Well, simply because my appearances are mainly from the bench,” remarked Ramos after the match.

Turning Point

With their attack struggling across the attacking unit, Ramos’ last-gasp winner has given his manager food for thought. The striker was unsuccessful with earlier attempts before scoring his final and securing the victory, but the fact that the team's clearest openings fell to him is telling. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were buying when they made a significant investment. “His role is vital for us because he is constantly prepared for every match, whether he starts or not,” said the manager. “Short cameos from the striker are productive periods.” Perhaps now is the opportunity for the bench specialist to play a major part.

Domestic Competition 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

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
11