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“The situation is both pleasing and irritating,” says the PSG manager. The PSG boss has a complex relationship with how his team’s league matches play out. Whenever the Parisians play, one team presses and the other defends. “I enjoy facing defensive setups,” 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.”

Accepting low blocks isn’t really a choice for PSG; it's their constant situation, a result of the skill gap created by budget inequality. Their quality typically shines through and the low-block is unlocked with different levels of challenge. However, this campaign has been more challenging.

Dominant Possession However Insufficient Results

PSG have averaged 72.5% possession in the French league so far this campaign. Against Nice on Saturday, they had 76.5% of the ball and made numerous passes, compared to just Nice's 182. Before the break, Vitinha had numerous ball contacts – just six fewer than the entire Nice team – but PSG struggled to make their domination tell. At halftime, Nice defender Juma Bah, whose header was cleared off the line by a PSG player, had come closest to scoring.

This performance wasn't isolated. The Parisians had tied three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. Dominating possession with 71% against the visiting team, but were reliant on a last-minute Senny Mayulu equaliser to earn a draw. Although possessing 77% possession against Lorient in midweek, they only scored once and were ultimately held to a draw. Almost one third of the way into the season, PSG are just fifth in scoring in Ligue 1 – behind Marseille, Lille, Monaco and Strasbourg.

Attacking Unit Problems

It is a result of the special treatment that PSG receive, but also reflects a real issue. Their goal scorers are underperforming. The French international's 29 goals last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the Champions League; Another attacker scored 14 goals in the league; Désiré Doué hit 16 total goals; and Their winter signing scored several times after his January move.

The forward claimed the golden ball and, while it is contestable that the national team player is indeed the global standout, it is challenging to deny that he was not the best player of the previous term. He's managed only five scores in 12 matches this season. He experienced a hamstring injury while on international duty in last month, which caused a conflict between PSG and the France team that has seen the ties between both parties worsen. He was unavailable for around six weeks of action as a result, but he still doesn’t look right. Following the victory against Nice, he was seen touching his muscle. “The pain is intense,” he told teammate Achraf Hakimi.

Injury Concerns

Luis Enrique says Dembélé will be fit to face the German giants this week in the continental tournament but, while he regains his form, other players have to step up. It won’t be Doué. The promising talent was also sidelined in recently. He was recovering to his best when he was affected by another leg problem, which is expected to rule him out until next month. Their winger is a valuable player to his team but he often excels mainly for the important matches in the Champions League; he is goalless so far in Ligue 1 this season. Another forward, PSG’s leading marksman in all competitions this season, has just one goal in his last eight appearances and is in a dry spell. An attacker with hot streaks, the scoring will surely resume, but he can’t be expected to be the goalscorer in this high-priced PSG attack.

Gonçalo Ramos scored the winner against Nice but will he keep his place in the team?

These were the expectations handed to the Portuguese when he joined in last year. Their number nine achieved the landmark of 100 matches for PSG against Nice, but he has started on the sidelines in over 50% of those appearances. With nearly half his total after coming on as a substitute, he has very much assumed the role of the “super-sub”, partially due to his limited contribution when selected, but mostly due to his boss's unwillingness to field a conventional No 9. “Why do I score so many goals off the bench? Basically because I'm substituted in more often than I begin games,” joked Ramos after the match.

Turning Point

As scoring has decreased across the forward line, the match-winning strike has given his boss decisions to make. Their number nine failed to convert several opportunities before converting his next and deciding the game, but the fact that PSG’s best chances fell to him is telling. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were investing in when they paid substantial money. “His role is vital for us because he is always ready for every match, regardless of his starting status,” said Luis Enrique. “Short cameos from the striker are productive periods.” The moment might have come for the impact substitute to play a starring role.

French League Matches

• 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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