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“It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” states the PSG manager. The Paris Saint-Germain manager has a tricky relationship with how his club's league matches play out. When PSG are involved, one team presses and the other sits back. “I enjoy facing defensive setups,” he insists. “This is the game situation I know best. I am very respectful of how other teams play. Though unconventional compared to our style, I acknowledge and welcome it.”

Dealing with deep defenses isn't optional for PSG; it is simply their reality, due to the skill gap created by budget inequality. Their quality typically shines through and the low-block is unlocked with mixed ease. But it has been tougher this season.

Control of the Ball However Poor Output

The French champions have recorded over 72% ball control in the French league so far this season. Versus Nice last weekend, they had dominant ball control and made 760 passes, versus just under 200 for their opponents. Before the break, their playmaker had 90 contacts with the ball – merely six short 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.

And this game isn’t an outlier. The Parisians had tied 75% of their recent Ligue 1 games. They had 71% possession against the visiting team, but were dependent on a late Mayulu leveler to earn a draw. And, despite having 77% of the ball against another French side in midweek, they managed just one goal and were unable to win. Almost one third of the way into the season, PSG are only the fifth top scorers in Ligue 1 – behind Marseille, Lille, Monaco and Strasbourg.

Attacking Unit Struggles

This reflects the particular attention that PSG attract, but also indicates a serious concern. Their goal scorers are underperforming. Ousmane Dembélé’s 29 strikes last season aided in securing Ligue 1 and the European Cup; A young forward 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.

Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or 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 best player of the previous term. He's recorded merely five strikes in 12 appearances this season. He encountered a thigh issue while on international duty in September, which gave rise to a blame game between PSG and the French federation that has seen the relationship between the two institutions decline. He was unavailable for around six weeks of action as a result, but he still doesn’t look right. Post-match against their rivals, he was seen touching his muscle. “It hurts so much,” he told teammate Achraf Hakimi.

Fitness Issues

The PSG coach says Dembélé will be fit to face the German giants this week in the Champions League but, while he returns to full fitness, squad members need to perform. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The young attacker was also hurt in the same month. He was returning to his best when he was struck down with another muscle issue, which is expected to rule him out until next month. The Georgian is a important contributor to his team but he often excels mainly for the crucial games in the Champions League; he is yet to score in Ligue 1 this season. Barcola, PSG’s leading marksman in all competitions this season, has just a single strike in his last eight appearances and is in a goal drought. A player who scores in bursts, the form will certainly come back, but he can’t be expected to be the goalscorer in this expensively assembled PSG attack.

The Portuguese striker scored the winner against Nice but will he keep his place in the team?

That was the job assigned to the Portuguese when he signed in recently. The Portugal striker reached the milestone of 100 matches for PSG against Nice, but he has started on the sidelines in more than half of those appearances. Having scored 18 of his 38 goals after coming on as a substitute, he has very much assumed the role of the “finisher”, partly because of his ineffectiveness when selected, but mainly owing to his coach's hesitation to begin with a out-and-out forward. “Why do I score so many goals off the bench? The simple reason is I come off the bench more than I start,” joked Ramos after the match.

Critical Moment

As scoring has decreased across the attacking unit, Ramos’ last-gasp winner has given his coach something to consider. The striker failed to convert several opportunities 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 invested €65m. “He is a very important player for us because he is constantly prepared for every match, whether he starts or not,” said their coach. “Five minutes of Gonçalo on the pitch are valuable time.” Perhaps now is the opportunity for the bench specialist to play a major part.

Ligue 1 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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