🔗 Share this article Paris Saint-Germain Face an Unusual Challenge: Goal Shortage in Ligue 1 “It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” says the team's head coach. The Paris Saint-Germain manager has a complex relationship with how his club's league matches unfold. Whenever the Parisians play, one team attacks and the other protects. “I like attacking a low block,” he asserts. “I have the most experience with this tactical scenario. I am very respectful of how other teams play. Though unconventional compared to our style, I acknowledge and welcome it.” Facing defensive teams isn’t really a choice for PSG; it is simply their reality, because of the talent imbalance created by economic disparity. Their talent usually tells and the low-block is unlocked with different levels of challenge. Yet this term has proven more difficult. Dominant Possession Yet Insufficient Results The Parisians have maintained nearly three-quarters of possession in France's top flight so far this campaign. Versus Nice last weekend, they had over 76% possession and made over 750 passes, against just under 200 for their opponents. At the interval, the Portuguese midfielder had 90 contacts with the ball – only six less than the whole Nice squad – but PSG couldn't translate superiority into goals. At halftime, Nice defender Juma Bah, whose header was cleared off the line by a PSG player, had been the most dangerous. This performance wasn't isolated. PSG had drawn 75% of their recent Ligue 1 games. They had 71% possession against Strasbourg, but were dependent on a dying moments tying goal from Mayulu to earn a draw. And, despite having 77% of the ball against their midweek opponents in midweek, they managed just one goal and were finally tied. Approximately 33% of the way into the season, PSG are ranked fifth for goals in Ligue 1 – after multiple domestic rivals. Forward Line Problems It is a result of the particular attention that PSG attract, but also reflects a genuine problem. Their goal scorers are underperforming. 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; The talented youngster hit 16 total goals; and Their winter signing scored eight after his winter transfer. The forward claimed the Ballon d’Or and, while it is debatable that the French star is indeed the global standout, it is difficult to argue that he was not the best player of the previous term. He's managed only five strikes in 12 matches this season. He experienced a thigh issue while on country representation in last month, which gave rise to a dispute between PSG and the national squad that has seen the connection between club and country decline. He was unavailable for 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 holding his thigh. “The pain is intense,” he told fellow player Hakimi. Fitness Issues The PSG coach says the forward should be available to face Bayern Munich this week in the Champions League but, while he returns to full fitness, squad members need to perform. It won’t be Doué. The promising talent was also hurt in the same month. He was just getting back to his best when he was suffered another thigh injury, which is likely to keep him out until next month. The Georgian is a important contributor to his team but he often excels mainly for the important matches in the European stage; 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 goal in his last eight matches and is in a fallow period. An attacker with hot streaks, the goals will undoubtedly return, 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 maintain his position in the team? That was the job handed to the Portuguese when he joined in last year. Their number nine hit the century of 100 matches for PSG against Nice, but he has been a substitute in more than half of those appearances. Recording a significant portion after being introduced from the bench, he has clearly taken on the role of the “super-sub”, partly because of his limited contribution when picked, but mainly owing to his manager’s reluctance to field a traditional striker. “Why do I score so many goals off the bench? Basically because my appearances are mainly from the bench,” remarked Ramos after the match. Decisive Period With their attack struggling across the frontline, the match-winning strike has given his boss decisions to make. The striker failed to convert several opportunities before converting his next and securing the victory, but the fact that their prime opportunities were created for him is revealing. His finishing is instinctive and that is what PSG were acquiring when they invested €65m. “He is a very important player for us because he is constantly prepared for every match, regardless of his starting status,” said Luis Enrique. “Short cameos from the striker are valuable time.” The moment might have come for the super-sub to play a major part. Ligue 1 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