It was business as usual for PSG on Saturday night.
A routine 3-0 win over Le Havre saw the Parisian powerhouse reclaim top spot in Ligue 1. They do have a genuine title threat in the form of rivals Marseille, L’OM briefly going first on Friday.
In this article, we’ll cover:
It’s hardly been plain sailing for PSG this season. They’ve already lost one of their opening 13 leagues matches. Luis Enrique’s side only last twice in the entirety of 2024/25. Both defeats came after the title had been won and the Champions League was the priority.
Enrique has again stuck with his tried and tested 4-3-3 formation for the campaign so far. After all, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? The issue, though, comes that teams, to an extent, are starting to figure PSG out.
PSG dominating Ligue 1
They’re still the dominant side in Ligue 1 – shock – but there are signs that the dominance is starting to count for less now than it did last season. Unsurprisingly, PSG have the highest possession average (71.8%) in the 2025-26 Ligue 1 campaign. That’s risen slightly from last season (68.4%).
When you’ve got the likes of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz to call upon in the middle of the park, it shouldn’t come as a shock that PSG dictate the tempo. The former, after all, ranks top for completed passes (1178) in the division. PSG, meanwhile, boast the best pass accuracy (92.1%) in Ligue 1. They wear opponents down and know when to pick the time to strike. Or at least they once did.
For all of PSG’s dominance, they are struggling to make the dominance count. Indeed, they are averaging fewer goals per game this season (2.08) than they managed in 2024-25 (2.71). They’re not even the top scorers in the league, that honour bestowed upon Marseille (33) after Friday’s 5-1 thumping of Nice.
Ligue 1 champions struggling against low blocks
They’re being hamstrung by teams now sitting deeper knowing they can frustrate Enrique’s side. “I like attacking a low block,” the PSG boss said earlier this month. “It is the phase of play that I am most familiar with.” The reality is that no matter who they face, PSG will come up against a deep-sitting defence. Yet with space at a premium now more than ever, PSG are struggling against opponents who dig in and remain compact.
They see more of the ball but are doing less with it in dangerous areas. Chances created per 90 have dropped from 15.35 to 14.62. Attempted through balls per 90 have also fallen from 2.85 to 2.08. Unsurprisingly, shots per 90 have also dipped from 18.68 to 17.85. So, too, has touches in the opposition box (38.21 to 34.54).
This is proving somewhat problematic for PSG. The ability to break resolute backlines down is diminishing. Just six of their 27 league goals have come from the 76th minute onwards. For context, Lille (15) and Marseille (10) sit above the defending champions for this metric.
As opponents maintain this resolve, they become more confident in their efforts to claim a result. PSG have already dropped nine points this season. They dropped 18 in the entirety of 2024-25, seven of which came after they were crowned champions. France’s juggernaut is showing signs of weakness.
Key injuries hurting Enrique’s side
Injuries to key men haven’t helped Enrique. A series of muscle issues means 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele has been restricted to just three league. A thigh problem has sidelined Desire Doue. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia only scored his first league goal of the season in a 3-2 win over Lyon earlier this month.
No PSG player has scored more league goals than Bradley Barcola (5) this season, and even then; he’s only netted twice in his last seven Ligue 1 outings. He’s level with central midfielder Joao Neves at the top of the club’s scoring charts. Injuries to vital players means Enrique is yet to utilise the electrifying strike trio that started the Champions League final in the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season.
A concern, too, is that those in reserve are struggling to shoulder the goalscoring burden. Goncalo Ramos has scored two league goals, one of which was admittedly a decisive strike in a 1-0 home win over Nice. Lee Kang-In and Senny Mayulu have both scored once.
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Yes, PSG are top of the league, but how long can this dip in attacking performance levels go on for? High-flying pair Marseille and Lens are hot on their heels as the duo look to capitalise on any slip-up at the summit.
With the welcome of Tottenham in the Champions League looming, Enrique needs to find solutions to the relative offensive woes. Spurs are expected to sit deep as the pragmatic Thomas Frank looks to grind out a result. While it didn’t work against Arsenal, the north London side were minutes away from winning the Super Cup against PSG back in August.
Crucially, though, is that Enrique won’t be able to call upon Doue, Dembele and Achraf Hakimi, three key attackers, this time around. The PSG boss really needs his backup stars to start performing in the final third starting from Wednesday’s European clash.