PSG Confront an Unusual Issue: Goal Drought in Ligue 1
“The situation is both pleasing and irritating,” remarks Luis Enrique. The PSG boss 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. “Breaking down deep defenses appeals to me,” he insists. “I have the most experience with this tactical scenario. I am very respectful of how other teams play. While it differs from our philosophy, I comprehend and embrace it.”
Facing defensive teams isn’t really a choice for PSG; it is simply their reality, a result of the talent imbalance created by economic disparity. Their superior ability generally prevails and the resistance is overcome with different levels of challenge. Yet this term has proven more difficult.
Control of the Ball However Insufficient Results
PSG have averaged over 72% ball control in Ligue 1 so far this season. Against Nice on Saturday, they had dominant ball control and made numerous passes, compared to just 182 for Nice. By half-time, Vitinha had 90 touches of the ball – just six fewer than the entire Nice team – but PSG struggled to make their domination tell. When the first period ended, the visiting team's defender, whose close-range effort was saved by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had nearly scored.
This match wasn't an exception. They had shared points in three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. With 71% ball control against Strasbourg, but were needing a dying moments tying goal from Mayulu to earn a draw. Even with 77% of the ball against Lorient in midweek, they only scored once and were finally tied. Almost one third of the way into the season, PSG are only the fifth top scorers in Ligue 1 – after multiple domestic rivals.
Attacking Unit Issues
It is a result of the particular attention that PSG receive, but also indicates a genuine problem. Their attackers are struggling. Ousmane Dembélé’s 29 scores last season helped PSG win Ligue 1 and the Champions League; A young forward scored 14 goals in the league; Désiré Doué hit 16 total goals; and Their winter signing scored several times after his winter transfer.
He received the golden ball and, while it is contestable that the national team player is indeed the global standout, it is hard to dispute that he was not the top performer of the previous term. He has just five goals in 12 matches this season. He encountered a muscle problem while on national team service in September, which gave rise to a blame game between PSG and the France team that has seen the connection between club and country worsen. Dembélé missed around six weeks of action as a result, but he appears below his best. Following the victory against Nice, he was seen clutching his hamstring. “The pain is intense,” he told club colleague.
Player Availability
The PSG coach says Dembélé will be fit to face Bayern Munich this week in the European competition but, while he gets back up to speed, squad members need to perform. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The former Rennes forward was also sidelined in recently. He was recovering to his best when he was affected by another leg problem, which is likely to keep him out until January. Kvaratskhelia is a important contributor to his team but he often excels mainly for the important matches in the Champions League; he is still without a goal 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 games and is in a fallow period. Something of a purple-patch forward, the goals will undoubtedly return, but he isn't the solution to be the goalscorer in this costly PSG attack.
The Portuguese striker scored the winner against Nice but will he keep his place in the team?
These were the expectations assigned to the Portuguese when he arrived in last year. Their number nine achieved the landmark of 100 appearances for PSG against Nice, but he has been a substitute in more than half of those appearances. Having scored 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 selected, but mainly owing to his boss's unwillingness to field a out-and-out forward. “What explains my bench scoring record? Well, simply because my appearances are mainly from the bench,” remarked Ramos after the match.
Turning Point
As scoring has decreased across the forward line, his late decisive goal has given his coach something to consider. Their number nine was unsuccessful with earlier attempts before converting his next and winning the match, but the fact that the team's clearest openings were created for him is telling. He's a natural goal scorer 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, regardless of his starting status,” said the manager. “Short cameos from the striker 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 |
| 11 |
