{"id":1405128,"date":"2025-10-20T17:00:55","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T16:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1405128"},"modified":"2025-10-20T17:00:55","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T16:00:55","slug":"bayer-leverkusen-vs-psg-pre-match-analysis","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/bayer-leverkusen-vs-psg-pre-match-analysis\/","title":{"rendered":"Bayer Leverkusen vs PSG pre-match analysis: Dembele return boosts Champions League holders ahead of tough away test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>PSG have shown their vulnerabilities this season.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019t such a foregone conclusion. Admittedly they showed great character to come from 3-1 down to claim a point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet having battered Strasbourg at home in years gone by, Friday\u2019s stalemate showed that perhaps PSG aren\u2019t quite the immovable object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this article, we&#8217;ll cover:<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-dembele-s-back-for-psg\" data-level=\"3\">Dembele&#8217;s back for PSG<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-psg-benefitted-from-dembele-s-role-change\" data-level=\"3\">PSG benefitted from Dembele&#8217;s role change<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-bayer-defensive-issues-a-concern\" data-level=\"3\">Bayer defensive issues a concern<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, they remain far and away the strongest side in France. By extension, they\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next up for Luis Enrique\u2019s men is a testing trip to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday. Now, the German aren\u2019t quite as intimidating as they were under Xabi Alonso. They\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019re not to be underestimated on home turf. Crucially for PSG, though, they do have a secret weapon to call upon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-dembele-s-back-for-psg\">Dembele&#8217;s back for PSG<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ousmane Dembele hasn\u2019t 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\u2019s scored two and provided two assists. The Ballon d\u2019Or winner will hope to return with a bang.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"article-page__title\">Dabble sign-up offer: <b data-stringify-type=\"bold\">Bet \u00a310+ &amp; Receive \u00a310 In Free Bets<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p><strong>Not signed up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/dabble-sign-up-offer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dabble<\/a> yet? Here's how to claim the <b data-stringify-type=\"bold\">Bet \u00a310+ &amp; Receive \u00a310 In Free Bets<\/b> welcome offer:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Sign up to Dabble through this <a href=\"\/en\/go\/dabble?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\">link<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Register your account with accurate personal details<\/li>\r\n<li>Place your first bet of \u00a310 or more<\/li>\r\n<li>Receive your \u00a310 in free bets when your qualifying bet has setted<\/li>\r\n<li>Use your Free Bet on any eligible sportsbook market within 7 days<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><a href=\"\/en\/go\/dabble?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1423518 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-300x250.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-300x250.png 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-320x267.png 320w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-240x200.png 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-72x60.png 72w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-150x125.png 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-40x33.png 40w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822.png 712w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p>#AD 18+ 7-day free bet expiry. Stake not returned. Promotional Terms Apply.\u00a0<a class=\"c-link\" href=\"http:\/\/gambleaware.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"http:\/\/GambleAware.org\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">GambleAware.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PSG have carefully managed his return to action but he\u2019s expected to play some part in Germany. It\u2019s fair to say that PSG haven\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-psg-benefitted-from-dembele-s-role-change\">PSG benefitted from Dembele&#8217;s role change<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>PSG are unlikely to throw the 28-year-old straight back into the mix. Yet Dembele\u2019s 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\u2019s chances for success. With Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Lee Kang-In on the books, there were already plenty of cooks in the kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20165545\/PSHShotsper90201025-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1405133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20165545\/PSHShotsper90201025-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20165545\/PSHShotsper90201025-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20165545\/PSHShotsper90201025-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20165545\/PSHShotsper90201025-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20165545\/PSHShotsper90201025-214x267.jpg 214w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20165545\/PSHShotsper90201025-160x200.jpg 160w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20165545\/PSHShotsper90201025-48x60.jpg 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20165545\/PSHShotsper90201025-120x150.jpg 120w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20165545\/PSHShotsper90201025-32x40.jpg 32w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20165545\/PSHShotsper90201025.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, this benefits Dembele\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bayer-defensive-issues-a-concern\">Bayer defensive issues a concern<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019t exactly been the sturdiest of teams this season. They\u2019ve kept just two competitive clean sheets, one of which was against lower league opposition Sonnenhof Grossaspach in the DFB-Pokal in August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kasper Hjulmand was dealt a tough hand when he came to clean up Erik ten Hag\u2019s 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\u2019s availability will have, therefore, devastated the Dane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019 return is a huge boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019Or triumph.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football betting tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football accumulator tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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\u2019t such a foregone conclusion. Admittedly they showed great character to come from&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3564,"featured_media":1405129,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"PSG travel to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League with Ousmane Dembele set to return. The French forward's availability could be key as Luis Enrique's side look to maintain their perfect European start.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1405128","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Bayer Leverkusen vs PSG pre-match analysis: Dembele return boosts Champions League holders ahead of tough away test | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"PSG travel to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League with Ousmane Dembele set to return. 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The French forward&#039;s availability could be key as Luis Enrique&#039;s side look to maintain their perfect European start.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/bayer-leverkusen-vs-psg-pre-match-analysis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Squawka | EN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SquawkaFootballNews\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20164546\/OusmaneDembele20102025_3CH15PT-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@squawka\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/bayer-leverkusen-vs-psg-pre-match-analysis\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/bayer-leverkusen-vs-psg-pre-match-analysis\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ben McAleer\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/d83177c024444113f28c89f65fde90b4\"},\"headline\":\"Bayer Leverkusen vs PSG pre-match analysis: Dembele return boosts Champions League holders ahead of tough away test\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-20T16:00:55+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/bayer-leverkusen-vs-psg-pre-match-analysis\/\"},\"wordCount\":874,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/bayer-leverkusen-vs-psg-pre-match-analysis\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20164546\/OusmaneDembele20102025_3CH15PT-scaled.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"accessibilityFeature\":[\"tableOfContents\"]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/bayer-leverkusen-vs-psg-pre-match-analysis\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/bayer-leverkusen-vs-psg-pre-match-analysis\/\",\"name\":\"Bayer Leverkusen vs PSG pre-match analysis: Dembele return boosts Champions League holders ahead of tough away test | Squawka | EN\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/bayer-leverkusen-vs-psg-pre-match-analysis\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/bayer-leverkusen-vs-psg-pre-match-analysis\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/20164546\/OusmaneDembele20102025_3CH15PT-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-20T16:00:55+00:00\",\"description\":\"PSG travel to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League with Ousmane Dembele set to return. 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