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“The situation is both pleasing and irritating,” remarks Luis Enrique. The French club's coach has a tricky relationship with how his club's league matches play out. In PSG's matches, one team goes forward and the other defends. “Breaking down deep defenses appeals to me,” he maintains. “This is the game situation I know best. I am very respectful of how other teams play. It is a different kind of football from ours, it’s atypical, but I understand and accept it.”

Dealing with deep defenses isn’t really a choice for PSG; it's their constant situation, due to the talent imbalance created by financial imbalance. Their quality typically shines through and the low-block is unlocked with different levels of challenge. However, this campaign has been more challenging.

Control of the Ball But Poor Output

PSG have averaged nearly three-quarters of possession in the French league so far this campaign. Facing Nice in their recent match, they had over 76% possession and made numerous passes, against just Nice's 182. Before the break, the Portuguese midfielder had 90 touches of the ball – only six less than the complete opposition side – but PSG failed to convert their control. When the first period ended, the visiting team's defender, whose header was cleared off the line by his teammate, had come closest to scoring.

And this game isn’t an outlier. PSG had drawn 75% of their recent Ligue 1 games. With 71% ball control against Strasbourg, but were dependent on a dying moments tying goal from Mayulu to secure one point. And, despite having 77% of the ball against their midweek opponents in midweek, they found the net only once and were ultimately held to a draw. Nearly a third of the way into the season, PSG are only the fifth top scorers in Ligue 1 – trailing several other French clubs.

Forward Line Problems

It is a result of the particular attention that PSG attract, but also shows a real issue. Their goal scorers are underperforming. Their star forward's 29 goals last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the European Cup; A young forward scored 14 occasions in the league; The talented youngster hit 16 in all competitions; and The Georgian international scored eight after his January move.

He received the golden ball and, while it is debatable that the French star is indeed the world's top footballer, it is difficult to argue that he was not the best player of the last season. He's recorded merely five strikes in 12 games this season. He experienced a thigh issue while on international duty in last month, which gave rise to a conflict between PSG and the French federation that has seen the ties between both parties decline. The player was absent for around several weeks of action as a result, but he appears below his best. After the win over Nice, he was seen touching his muscle. “The pain is intense,” he told club colleague.

Injury Concerns

Luis Enrique says the forward should be available to face their European opponents this week in the Champions League but, while he regains his form, teammates must contribute. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The promising talent was also sidelined in recently. He was just getting back to his best when he was struck down with another thigh injury, which is expected to rule him out until the new year. Their winger is a massive asset to his team but he often saves his best performances for the crucial games in the European stage; he is still without a goal in Ligue 1 this season. Another forward, PSG’s highest goal-getter in all competitions this season, has just one goal in his last eight games and is in a goal drought. Something of a purple-patch forward, the scoring will surely resume, but he shouldn't be relied upon to be the goalscorer in this high-priced PSG attack.

Gonçalo Ramos found the match-winner against Nice but will he maintain his position in the team?

That was the job assigned to the Portuguese when he arrived in last year. Their number nine reached the milestone of 100 games for PSG against Nice, but he has started on the sidelines in more than half of those appearances. Recording 18 of his 38 goals after entering as a replacement, he has very much assumed the role of the “finisher”, somewhat owing to his ineffectiveness when starting, but primarily because of his manager’s reluctance to field a traditional striker. “How come I score frequently as a substitute? Basically because I come off the bench more than I start,” remarked Ramos after the match.

Critical Moment

With the goals drying up across the frontline, the match-winning strike has given his boss decisions to make. Their number nine was unsuccessful with earlier attempts before converting his next and securing the victory, but the fact that their prime opportunities were created for him is significant. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were acquiring when they invested €65m. “He is a very important player for us because he is always ready for every match, even if he begins on the bench,” said Luis Enrique. “Even brief appearances from Gonçalo are quality minutes.” The moment might have come for the bench specialist to play a leading part.

Domestic Competition 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

Table Position

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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