Paris Saint-Germain Confront an Peculiar Problem: Scoring Lack in French Ligue 1

“The situation is both pleasing and irritating,” says the team's head coach. The French club's coach has a complex relationship with how his club's league matches develop. Whenever the Parisians play, one team goes forward and the other protects. “I like attacking a low block,” he asserts. “This is the game situation I know best. I am very respectful of how other teams play. Though unconventional compared to our style, I acknowledge and welcome it.”

Accepting low blocks isn't optional for PSG; it's their constant situation, due to the talent imbalance created by budget inequality. Their quality typically shines through and the low-block is unlocked with mixed ease. However, this campaign has been more challenging.

Control of the Ball But Poor Returns

PSG have averaged over 72% ball control in the French league so far this campaign. Against Nice on Saturday, they had dominant ball control and made numerous passes, against just under 200 for their opponents. Before the break, their playmaker had 90 touches of the ball – merely six short than the whole Nice squad – but PSG failed to convert their control. When the first period ended, Nice defender Juma Bah, whose close-range effort was saved by a PSG player, had been the most dangerous.

This performance wasn't isolated. 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 salvage a point. Although possessing dominant control against their midweek opponents in midweek, they managed just one goal and were finally tied. Nearly a third of the way into the season, PSG are ranked fifth for goals in Ligue 1 – behind several other French clubs.

Strike Force Issues

This reflects the unique approach that PSG receive, but also reflects a genuine problem. Their goal scorers are underperforming. The French international's 29 goals last season helped PSG win Ligue 1 and the European Cup; Bradley Barcola scored 14 occasions in the league; Désiré Doué hit 16 total goals; and Kvaratskhelia scored several times after his mid-season arrival.

The forward claimed the golden ball and, while it is arguable that the France international is indeed the world's top footballer, it is difficult to argue that he was not the top performer of the last season. He has just five scores in 12 matches this season. He experienced a hamstring injury while on international duty in September, which caused a blame game between PSG and the French federation that has seen the relationship between the two institutions decline. Dembélé missed around a month and a half of action as a result, but he still doesn’t look right. Post-match against their rivals, he was seen clutching his hamstring. “It's very painful,” he told teammate Achraf Hakimi.

Fitness Issues

Luis Enrique says the forward should be available to face Bayern Munich this week in the European competition but, while he gets back up to speed, other players have to step up. It won’t be Doué. The former Rennes forward was also hurt in the same month. He was just getting back to his best when he was struck down with another leg problem, which is expected to rule him out until next month. Their winger is a massive asset to his team but he often excels mainly for the crucial games in the continental competition; he is goalless so far in Ligue 1 this season. Their current top scorer, PSG’s highest goal-getter in all competitions this season, has just one score in his last eight appearances and is in a goal drought. Something of a purple-patch forward, the goals will undoubtedly return, but he shouldn't be relied upon to be the goalscorer in this costly PSG attack.

The Portuguese striker found the match-winner against Nice but will he maintain his position in the team?

That was the job handed to Gonçalo Ramos when he joined in 2023. The international forward achieved the landmark of 100 games for PSG against Nice, but he has been a substitute in over 50% of those appearances. Having scored nearly half his total after being introduced from the bench, he has very much assumed the role of the “impact player”, partially due to his ineffectiveness when picked, but mostly due to his manager’s reluctance to field a out-and-out forward. “How come I score frequently as a substitute? The simple reason is my appearances are mainly from the bench,” remarked Ramos after the match.

Critical Moment

As scoring has decreased across the forward line, Ramos’ last-gasp winner has given his coach something to consider. Their number nine failed to convert several opportunities before scoring his final and securing the victory, but the fact that their prime opportunities came to him is revealing. He's a natural goal scorer and that is what PSG were investing in when they invested €65m. “His role is vital for us because he is constantly prepared for every match, whether he starts or not,” said Luis Enrique. “Five minutes of Gonçalo on the pitch are valuable time.” Perhaps now is the opportunity for the bench specialist to play a leading 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

League Standings