PSG have shown their vulnerabilities this season.
A 3-3 draw with Strasbourg on Friday means they have now won just one of their last four league matches. The previously unstoppable Parisian powerhouse now look out of sorts. A Ligue 1 title perhaps isn’t such a foregone conclusion. Admittedly they showed great character to come from 3-1 down to claim a point.
Yet having battered Strasbourg at home in years gone by, Friday’s stalemate showed that perhaps PSG aren’t quite the immovable object.
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Of course, they remain far and away the strongest side in France. By extension, they’re also the best in Europe. The Champions League holders have won their opening two games in their defence. They eased past Atalanta and came from behind to beat Barcelona in their opening two European games.
Next up for Luis Enrique’s men is a testing trip to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday. Now, the German aren’t quite as intimidating as they were under Xabi Alonso. They’re unbeaten in eight yet have won just four times in that run. Granit Xhaka, Piero Hincapie, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong also followed Alonso out of the BayArena exit.
They’re not to be underestimated on home turf. Crucially for PSG, though, they do have a secret weapon to call upon.
Dembele’s back for PSG
Ousmane Dembele hasn’t played for the French side since suffering a hamstring injury on international duty last month. The France international has made just four PSG appearances this season. In that time, though, he’s scored two and provided two assists. The Ballon d’Or winner will hope to return with a bang.
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PSG have carefully managed his return to action but he’s expected to play some part in Germany. It’s fair to say that PSG haven’t looked quite so threatening without Dembele in the squad. Indeed, they drew a blank in a 1-0 Classique defeat to rivals Marseille and only scored once in a recent meeting with Lille.
Goncalo Ramos, who bagged decisive goals in recent meetings with Barcelona and Strasbourg, is an effective goalscorer. However, PSG lack fluidity with the Portugal international in the squad. The former Benfica man is more one-dimensional than the returning Dembele.
PSG benefitted from Dembele’s role change
PSG are unlikely to throw the 28-year-old straight back into the mix. Yet Dembele’s availability affords Luis Enrique greater attacking flexibility. The French giants were incredibly effective in the final third when Dembele was moved into a central role for the second half of last season. The January addition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could have hurt PSG’s chances for success. With Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Lee Kang-In on the books, there were already plenty of cooks in the kitchen.
Yet the arrival of the Georgian saw Dembele moved infield. The decision proved a masterstroke. Dembele was a goal machine as PSG sealed domestic and continental success. He brings creativity and unpredictability to the attack with the Frenchman able to drift wide, beat markers with his searing pace, and generally make a nuisance of himself.
Furthermore, this benefits Dembele’s attacking teammates. Whereas Ramos is more of a barrelling number nine, best suited in the box, there is greater interchangeability when Dembele leads the charge. The variation to the PSG attack increases tenfold with the former Barcelona man in the side. And his return to the squad presents Enrique with a handy ace up his sleeve.
Bayer defensive issues a concern
Against a Bayer side that will start with a three-man backline, Enrique needs the variety on the frontline to break the German outfit down. Bayer haven’t exactly been the sturdiest of teams this season. They’ve kept just two competitive clean sheets, one of which was against lower league opposition Sonnenhof Grossaspach in the DFB-Pokal in August.
Kasper Hjulmand was dealt a tough hand when he came to clean up Erik ten Hag’s mess. Bayer sold a raft of key players, with Lukas Hradecky another to exit the club. Significant personnel changes was far from ideal yet the 53-year-old has worked well so far. The welcome of PSG, though, will be his toughest test so far. Dembele’s availability will have, therefore, devastated the Dane.
Crucially for PSG, too, is that club captain Marquinhos has also travelled to Germany following a spell on the sidelines. While Enrique remains without key midfield pair Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz, Dembele and Marquinhos’ return is a huge boost.
Regardless, PSG should feel confident about securing a third Champions League win. Barcola, Doue and Kvaratskhelia are all quality attacking options to put Bayer to the sword. Warren Zaire-Emery and Lee are handy midfield deputies for Vitinha and Neves. Yet if the going gets tough in Leverkusen this week, Enrique can finally turn to Dembele again. The forward will hope to mark his first appearance with a performance that justified his Ballon d’Or triumph.