Paris Saint-Germain Encounter an Uncommon Issue: Goal Drought in France's top division

“It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” says Luis Enrique. The French club's coach has a tricky relationship with how his club's league matches unfold. When PSG are involved, one team attacks and the other sits back. “I like attacking a low block,” 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.”

Accepting low blocks isn't optional for PSG; it is simply their reality, due to the talent imbalance created by budget inequality. Their superior ability generally prevails and the low-block is unlocked with mixed ease. But it has been tougher this season.

Control of the Ball Yet Insufficient Output

PSG have averaged over 72% ball control in Ligue 1 so far this season. Against Nice on Saturday, they had over 76% possession and made 760 passes, against just 182 for Nice. At the interval, Vitinha had 90 touches of the ball – merely six short than the whole Nice squad – but PSG failed to convert their control. At halftime, the visiting team's defender, whose header was cleared off the line by a PSG player, had nearly scored.

This performance wasn't isolated. PSG had drawn three out of four Ligue 1 games. Dominating possession with 71% against Strasbourg, but were reliant on a last-minute Mayulu leveler to earn a draw. Although possessing 77% possession 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

This reflects the special treatment that PSG garner, but also reflects a serious concern. Their forwards are not scoring. The French international's 29 scores last season helped PSG win Ligue 1 and the continental trophy; Bradley Barcola scored 14 occasions in the league; Another offensive player hit 16 in all competitions; and The Georgian international scored eight after his mid-season arrival.

Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or and, while it is debatable that the French star is indeed the global standout, it is hard to dispute that he was not the top performer of the previous term. He's managed only five goals in 12 matches this season. He suffered a thigh issue while on country representation in early autumn, which caused a blame game between PSG and the national squad that has seen the relationship between the two institutions decline. Dembélé missed around six weeks of action as a result, but he hasn't fully recovered. After the win over Nice, he was seen touching his muscle. “It hurts so much,” he told teammate Achraf Hakimi.

Player Availability

The PSG coach says their star can play to face the German giants this week in the continental tournament but, while he returns to full fitness, other players have to step up. Unfortunately, Doué cannot help. The young attacker was also sidelined in September. He was just getting back to his best when he was suffered another thigh injury, which is likely to keep him out until the new year. Kvaratskhelia is a massive asset to his team but he often excels mainly for the crucial games in the Champions League; he is still without a goal in Ligue 1 this season. Barcola, PSG’s leading marksman in all competitions this season, has just a single strike in his last eight matches and is in a goal drought. A player who scores in bursts, the scoring will surely resume, but he shouldn't be relied upon to be the goalscorer in this costly PSG attack.

Their center forward got the decisive goal against Nice but will he maintain his position in the team?

This was the role given to the Portuguese when he signed in last year. The international forward hit the century of 100 games for PSG against Nice, but he has started on the sidelines in the majority of those appearances. Having scored 18 of his 38 goals after entering as a replacement, he has effectively embraced the role of the “impact player”, partially due to his limited contribution when selected, but primarily because of his manager’s reluctance to start with a conventional No 9. “Why do I score so many goals off the bench? Basically because I'm substituted in more often than I begin games,” quipped Ramos after the match.

Critical Moment

With the goals drying up across the forward line, Ramos’ last-gasp winner has given his boss decisions to make. The striker was unsuccessful with earlier attempts before taking his fourth and securing the victory, but the fact that PSG’s best chances came to him is telling. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were buying when they made a significant investment. “He is a very important player for us because he is continuously available for every match, regardless of his starting status,” said Luis Enrique. “Short cameos from the striker are productive periods.” It may be time for the impact substitute to play a major part.

Ligue 1 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

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