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“It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” says Luis Enrique. The Paris Saint-Germain manager has a tricky relationship with how his squad's league matches play out. When PSG are involved, one team presses and the other protects. “I like attacking a low block,” he insists. “I have the most experience with this tactical scenario. I appreciate the diversity of football approaches. Though unconventional compared to our style, I acknowledge and welcome it.”

Dealing with deep defenses isn't optional for PSG; it's their constant situation, due to the talent imbalance created by budget inequality. Their superior ability generally prevails and the resistance is overcome with varying degrees of difficulty. Yet this term has proven more difficult.

Game Dominance However Poor Results

The Parisians have maintained over 72% ball control in France's top flight so far this campaign. Against Nice on Saturday, they had 76.5% of the ball and made numerous passes, against just Nice's 182. At the interval, the Portuguese midfielder had 90 contacts with the ball – only six less than the complete opposition side – but PSG failed to convert their control. When the whistle blew for the interval, the visiting team's defender, whose close-range effort was saved by his teammate, had come closest to scoring.

This match wasn't an exception. PSG had drawn three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. With 71% ball control against Strasbourg, but were reliant on a dying moments Mayulu leveler to secure one point. Although possessing dominant control against another French side in midweek, they found the net only once and were finally tied. Nearly a third of the way into the season, PSG are only the fifth top scorers in Ligue 1 – behind several other French clubs.

Attacking Unit Problems

It is a result of the special treatment that PSG attract, but also indicates a genuine problem. Their forwards are not scoring. The French international's 29 scores last season aided in securing Ligue 1 and the continental trophy; A young forward scored 14 occasions in the league; The talented youngster hit 16 total goals; and Their winter signing scored several times after his January move.

He received the Ballon d’Or and, while it is contestable that the France international is indeed the world's top footballer, it is challenging to deny that he was not the outstanding individual of the previous term. He has just five strikes in 12 games this season. He experienced a muscle problem while on international duty in early autumn, which gave rise to a dispute between PSG and the national squad that has seen the ties between both parties worsen. He was unavailable for around several weeks of action as a result, but he hasn't fully recovered. Following the victory against Nice, he was seen clutching his hamstring. “The pain is intense,” he told fellow player Hakimi.

Fitness Issues

The PSG coach says Dembélé will be fit to face their European opponents this week in the continental tournament but, while he regains his form, other players have to step up. Sadly, Doué is unavailable. The young attacker was also sidelined in September. He was recovering to his best when he was affected by another leg problem, which is expected to rule him out until January. Their winger is a massive asset 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 score in his last eight games and is in a dry spell. Something of a purple-patch forward, the goals will undoubtedly return, but he can’t be expected to be the goalscorer in this costly PSG attack.

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

These were the expectations given to the Portuguese when he joined in 2023. The Portugal striker achieved the landmark of 100 matches for PSG against Nice, but he has started on the sidelines in over 50% of those appearances. With 18 of his 38 goals after coming on as a substitute, he has clearly taken on the role of the “impact player”, partly because of his ineffectiveness when selected, but mostly due to his coach's hesitation to start with a conventional No 9. “How come I score frequently as a substitute? Well, simply because I'm substituted in more often than I begin games,” quipped Ramos after the match.

Turning Point

With the goals drying up across the frontline, Ramos’ last-gasp winner has given his boss decisions to make. Their number nine missed three chances before taking his fourth and deciding the game, but the fact that PSG’s best chances fell to him is significant. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were buying when they paid substantial money. “His role is vital for us because he is always ready for every match, whether he starts or not,” said the manager. “Short cameos from the striker are productive periods.” It may be time for the bench specialist to play a major part.

French League 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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