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“It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” remarks the PSG manager. The Paris Saint-Germain manager has a tricky relationship with how his squad's league matches develop. When PSG are involved, one team goes forward and the other protects. “I like attacking a low block,” he asserts. “It is the phase of play that I am most familiar with. I respect opponents' playing styles. While it differs from our philosophy, I comprehend and embrace it.”

Facing defensive teams isn't optional for PSG; it's their constant situation, because of the talent imbalance created by economic disparity. Their talent usually tells and the low-block is unlocked with different levels of challenge. However, this campaign has been more challenging.

Game Dominance Yet Insufficient Results

PSG have averaged 72.5% possession in the French league 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 touches of the ball – merely six short than the complete opposition side – but PSG couldn't translate superiority into goals. At halftime, opposition defender Bah, whose close-range effort was saved by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had nearly scored.

This match wasn't an exception. They had shared points in 75% of their recent Ligue 1 games. With 71% ball control against their opponents, but were reliant on a dying moments Mayulu leveler to secure one point. And, despite having 77% possession against Lorient in midweek, they only scored once and were ultimately held to a draw. Approximately 33% of the way into the season, PSG are only the fifth top scorers in Ligue 1 – behind Marseille, Lille, Monaco and Strasbourg.

Forward Line Struggles

This reflects the particular attention that PSG attract, but also shows a genuine problem. Their goal scorers are underperforming. Their star forward's 29 strikes last season aided in securing Ligue 1 and the Champions League; Bradley Barcola scored 14 times in the league; The talented youngster hit 16 in all competitions; and Their winter signing scored eight after his winter transfer.

The forward claimed the prestigious award and, while it is contestable that the France international is indeed the global standout, it is difficult to argue that he was not the best player of the previous term. He's recorded merely five strikes in 12 matches this season. He suffered a muscle problem while on country representation in last month, which gave rise to a conflict between PSG and the French federation that has seen the relationship between the two institutions deteriorate. The player was absent for around six weeks of action as a result, but he still doesn’t look right. Post-match against their rivals, he was seen holding his thigh. “It's very painful,” he told teammate Achraf Hakimi.

Player Availability

Their manager says their star can play to face Bayern Munich this week in the European competition but, while he regains his form, other players have to step up. It won’t be Doué. The young attacker was also hurt in September. He was just getting back to his best when he was suffered another leg problem, which is likely to keep him out until next month. The Georgian is a important contributor to his team but he often excels mainly for the important matches in the European stage; he is goalless so far in Ligue 1 this season. Their current top scorer, PSG’s top scorer in all competitions this season, has just one goal in his last eight games and is in a dry spell. A player who scores in bursts, the scoring will surely resume, but he isn't the solution to be the goalscorer in this costly PSG attack.

Gonçalo Ramos scored the winner against Nice but will he maintain his position in the team?

That was the job given to their striker when he arrived in 2023. The Portugal striker hit the century of 100 matches for PSG against Nice, but he has come off the bench in the majority of those appearances. Recording a significant portion after being introduced from the bench, he has very much assumed the role of the “super-sub”, somewhat owing to his limited contribution when picked, but mostly due to his coach's hesitation to start with a traditional striker. “What explains my bench scoring record? The simple reason is I'm substituted in more often than I begin games,” quipped Ramos after the match.

Decisive Period

With the goals drying up across the attacking unit, the match-winning strike has given his boss decisions to make. The centre-forward 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 a natural goal scorer 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, regardless of his starting status,” said Luis Enrique. “Five minutes of Gonçalo on the pitch are valuable time.” It may be time for the super-sub to play a leading part.

French League 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

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
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