🔗 Share this article PSG Encounter an Uncommon Issue: Scoring Lack in French Ligue 1 “It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” says the team's head coach. The PSG boss has a complex relationship with how his squad's league matches play out. Whenever the Parisians play, one team attacks and the other sits back. “Breaking down deep defenses appeals to me,” he maintains. “I have the most experience with this tactical scenario. I appreciate the diversity of football approaches. It is a different kind of football from ours, it’s atypical, but I understand and accept it.” Dealing with deep defenses isn't optional for PSG; this is their regular experience, a result of the skill gap created by budget inequality. Their quality typically shines through and the defensive wall is broken with different levels of challenge. But it has been tougher this season. Dominant Possession However Insufficient Results PSG have averaged 72.5% possession in the French league so far this term. Against Nice on Saturday, they had 76.5% of the ball and made numerous passes, against just under 200 for their opponents. Before the break, the Portuguese midfielder had numerous ball contacts – only six less than the complete opposition side – but PSG struggled to make their domination tell. At halftime, Nice defender Juma Bah, whose close-range effort was saved by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had nearly scored. And this game isn’t an outlier. PSG had drawn 75% of their recent Ligue 1 games. Dominating possession with 71% against Strasbourg, but were reliant on a late Mayulu leveler to secure one point. Even with 77% of the ball against Lorient in midweek, they managed just one goal and were ultimately held to a draw. Approximately 33% of the way into the season, PSG are only the fifth top scorers in Ligue 1 – after Marseille, Lille, Monaco and Strasbourg. Forward Line Struggles This stems from the particular attention that PSG receive, but also reflects a real issue. Their forwards are not scoring. Ousmane Dembélé’s 29 goals last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the European Cup; Bradley Barcola scored 14 occasions in the league; Another offensive player hit 16 across all tournaments; and Their winter signing scored several times after his winter transfer. The forward claimed the Ballon d’Or and, while it is arguable that the French star is indeed the best player in the world, it is challenging to deny that he was not the top performer of the last season. He's recorded merely five goals in 12 matches this season. He suffered a muscle problem while on national team service in early autumn, which gave rise to a conflict between PSG and the French federation that has seen the ties between both parties worsen. Dembélé missed around six weeks of action as a result, but he hasn't fully recovered. Post-match against their rivals, he was seen touching his muscle. “It hurts so much,” he told club colleague. Injury Concerns The PSG coach says the forward should be available to face their European opponents this week in the Champions League but, while he returns to full fitness, squad members need to perform. Sadly, Doué is unavailable. The former Rennes forward was also sidelined in recently. He was just getting back to his best when he was struck down with another muscle issue, which is likely to keep him out until the new year. Kvaratskhelia is a massive asset to his team but he often saves his best performances for the big occasions in the continental competition; he is yet to score in Ligue 1 this season. Barcola, PSG’s highest goal-getter in all competitions this season, has just a single strike in his last eight matches and is in a goal drought. Something of a purple-patch forward, the form will certainly come back, but he can’t be expected to be the goalscorer in this high-priced 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 their striker when he joined in last year. The Portugal striker achieved the landmark of 100 appearances for PSG against Nice, but he has been a substitute in the majority of those appearances. Having scored a significant portion after coming on as a substitute, he has clearly taken on the role of the “impact player”, partially due to his ineffectiveness when starting, but mostly due to his boss's unwillingness to start with a conventional No 9. “Why do I score so many goals off the bench? Basically because I come off the bench more than I start,” joked Ramos after the match. Critical Moment With their attack struggling across the forward line, Ramos’ last-gasp winner has given his manager food for thought. Their number nine missed three chances before scoring his final and deciding the game, but the fact that their prime opportunities were created for him is revealing. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were acquiring when they paid substantial money. “He is a very important player for us because he is constantly prepared for every match, regardless of his starting status,” said the manager. “Even brief appearances from Gonçalo are valuable time.” The moment might have come for the bench specialist to play a major part. French League Results 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