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“It’s a mix of beauty and frustration,” states the team's head coach. The Paris Saint-Germain manager has a complex relationship with how his team’s league matches unfold. Whenever the Parisians play, one team goes forward and the other sits back. “I like attacking a low block,” he insists. “It is the phase of play that I am most familiar with. I appreciate the diversity of football approaches. Though unconventional compared to our style, I acknowledge and welcome it.”

Accepting low blocks isn’t really a choice for PSG; it's their constant situation, because of the talent imbalance created by budget inequality. Their superior ability generally prevails and the defensive wall is broken with mixed ease. However, this campaign has been more challenging.

Control of the Ball However Insufficient Returns

PSG have averaged nearly three-quarters of possession in Ligue 1 so far this campaign. Versus Nice last weekend, they had over 76% possession and made over 750 passes, against just Nice's 182. By half-time, their playmaker had 90 contacts with the ball – merely six short than the entire Nice team – but PSG couldn't translate superiority into goals. When the first period ended, opposition defender Bah, whose goal-bound attempt was blocked by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had nearly scored.

And this game isn’t an outlier. PSG had drawn three out of four Ligue 1 games. Dominating possession with 71% against the visiting team, but were dependent on a late Senny Mayulu equaliser to salvage a point. And, despite having 77% possession against their midweek opponents in midweek, they managed just one goal and were unable to win. Almost one third of the way into the season, PSG are only the fifth top scorers in Ligue 1 – behind several other French clubs.

Attacking Unit Issues

This stems from the unique approach that PSG garner, but also reflects a real issue. Their attackers are struggling. Ousmane Dembélé’s 29 strikes last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the continental trophy; Another attacker scored 14 occasions in the league; The talented youngster hit 16 across all tournaments; and Kvaratskhelia scored eight after his January move.

The forward claimed the Ballon d’Or and, while it is debatable that the France international 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 managed only five strikes in 12 appearances this season. He encountered a thigh issue while on national team service in last month, which caused a blame game between PSG and the national squad that has seen the connection between club and country deteriorate. Dembélé missed around six weeks of action as a result, but he hasn't fully recovered. Post-match against their rivals, he was seen clutching his hamstring. “It hurts so much,” he told fellow player Hakimi.

Injury Concerns

Their manager says the forward should be available to face their European opponents this week in the Champions League but, while he regains his form, squad members need to perform. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The promising talent was also hurt in recently. He was returning to his best when he was affected by another leg problem, which is expected to rule him out until January. Kvaratskhelia is a important contributor to his team but he often saves his best performances for the important matches in the continental competition; he is yet to score in Ligue 1 this season. Another forward, PSG’s top scorer in all competitions this season, has just a single strike in his last eight matches and is in a dry spell. An attacker with hot streaks, the scoring will surely resume, but he shouldn't be relied upon to be the goalscorer in this costly PSG attack.

The Portuguese striker scored the winner against Nice but will he remain in the lineup in the team?

This was the role given to Gonçalo Ramos when he signed in recently. The international forward reached the milestone of 100 games for PSG against Nice, but he has come off the bench in over 50% of those appearances. Recording 18 of his 38 goals after entering as a replacement, he has clearly taken on the role of the “impact player”, somewhat owing to his limited contribution when starting, but mainly owing to his manager’s reluctance to field a traditional striker. “What explains my bench scoring record? The simple reason is I come off the bench more than I start,” remarked Ramos after the match.

Turning Point

As scoring has decreased across the forward line, the match-winning strike has given his manager food for thought. Their number nine missed three chances before scoring his final and winning the match, but the fact that the team's clearest openings fell to him is revealing. His finishing is instinctive and that is what PSG were buying when they paid substantial money. “He is a very important player for us because he is continuously available for every match, whether he starts or not,” said Luis Enrique. “Short cameos from the striker are quality minutes.” The moment might have come for the impact substitute to play a leading part.

French League 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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