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“It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” states the PSG manager. The French club's coach has a complex relationship with how his team’s league matches play out. When PSG are involved, one team presses and the other protects. “I like attacking a low block,” he maintains. “I have the most experience with this tactical scenario. I respect opponents' playing styles. 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; this is their regular experience, due to the quality difference created by budget inequality. Their quality typically shines through and the resistance is overcome with different levels of challenge. But it has been tougher this season.

Control of the Ball Yet Limited Output

The French champions have recorded over 72% ball control in the French league so far this campaign. Against Nice on Saturday, 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 – merely six short than the complete opposition side – but PSG struggled to make their domination tell. At halftime, opposition defender Bah, whose header was cleared off the line by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had nearly scored.

This performance wasn't isolated. The Parisians had tied three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. Dominating possession with 71% against the visiting team, but were needing a last-minute tying goal from Mayulu to earn a draw. And, despite having 77% possession against their midweek opponents in midweek, they managed just one goal and were ultimately held to a draw. Almost one third of the way into the season, PSG are just fifth in scoring in Ligue 1 – after multiple domestic rivals.

Forward Line Issues

This reflects the unique approach that PSG attract, but also reflects a real issue. Their goal scorers are underperforming. Their star forward's 29 goals last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the continental trophy; A young forward scored 14 occasions in the league; Another offensive player hit 16 across all tournaments; and Their winter signing scored eight after his mid-season arrival.

The forward claimed the prestigious award and, while it is debatable that the France international is indeed the world's top footballer, it is challenging to deny that he was not the top performer of the last season. He's recorded merely five scores in 12 matches this season. He suffered a muscle problem while on national team service in last month, which caused a conflict between PSG and the national squad that has seen the relationship between the two institutions deteriorate. The player was absent for around six weeks of action as a result, but he still doesn’t look right. Following the victory against Nice, he was seen clutching his hamstring. “The pain is intense,” he told teammate Achraf Hakimi.

Injury Concerns

The PSG coach says their star can play to face the German giants this week in the continental tournament but, while he gets back up to speed, teammates must contribute. Sadly, Doué is unavailable. The young attacker was also injured in recently. He was recovering to his best when he was suffered another muscle issue, which is likely to keep him out until January. The Georgian is a valuable player to his team but he often reserves his top displays for the big occasions in the continental competition; he is still without a goal in Ligue 1 this season. Their current top scorer, PSG’s top scorer in all competitions this season, has just one score in his last eight games and is in a dry spell. An attacker with hot streaks, the goals will undoubtedly return, but he shouldn't be relied upon to be the goalscorer in this costly PSG attack.

The Portuguese striker got the decisive goal against Nice but will he maintain his position in the team?

That was the job given to the Portuguese when he arrived in recently. Their number nine hit the century of 100 games for PSG against Nice, but he has started on the sidelines in the majority of those appearances. Recording nearly half his total after coming on as a substitute, he has effectively embraced the role of the “finisher”, partially due to his limited contribution when starting, but mostly due to his manager’s reluctance to start with a traditional striker. “What explains my bench scoring record? Well, simply because I'm substituted in more often than I begin games,” remarked Ramos after the match.

Critical Moment

As scoring has decreased across the forward line, the match-winning strike has given his boss decisions to make. The centre-forward failed to convert several opportunities before scoring his final and securing the victory, but the fact that their prime opportunities were created for him is revealing. He's a natural goal scorer and that is what PSG were investing in 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 the manager. “Five minutes of Gonçalo on the pitch are productive periods.” It may be time for the bench specialist 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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