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“It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” says the team's head coach. The PSG boss has a tricky relationship with how his club's league matches unfold. When PSG are involved, one team presses and the other defends. “I like attacking a low block,” he asserts. “This is the game situation I know best. I appreciate the diversity of football approaches. Though unconventional compared to our style, I acknowledge and welcome it.”

Dealing with deep defenses is unavoidable for PSG; it is simply their reality, because of the skill gap created by financial imbalance. 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 nearly three-quarters of possession in Ligue 1 so far this season. Versus Nice last weekend, they had 76.5% of the ball and made numerous passes, against just under 200 for their opponents. By half-time, the Portuguese midfielder had 90 touches of the ball – only six less 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 his teammate, had come closest to scoring.

This match wasn't an exception. They had shared points in three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. Dominating possession with 71% against Strasbourg, but were dependent on a dying moments Senny Mayulu equaliser to secure one point. And, despite having 77% of the ball against another French side in midweek, they managed just one goal and were finally tied. Almost one third of the way into the season, PSG are only the fifth top scorers in Ligue 1 – trailing several other French clubs.

Forward Line Struggles

This reflects the particular attention that PSG garner, but also shows a genuine problem. Their goal scorers are underperforming. The French international's 29 scores last season contributed to PSG's Ligue 1 and the continental trophy; A young forward scored 14 occasions in the league; The talented youngster hit 16 across all tournaments; and Their winter signing scored eight after his winter transfer.

He received the golden ball and, while it is contestable that the France international is indeed the global standout, it is difficult to argue that he was not the outstanding individual of the previous term. He's recorded merely five strikes in 12 appearances this season. He experienced a hamstring injury while on national team service in September, which gave rise to a dispute between PSG and the French federation that has seen the connection between club and country worsen. He was unavailable for around six weeks of action as a result, but he appears below his best. Post-match against their rivals, he was seen touching his muscle. “The pain is intense,” he told club colleague.

Fitness Issues

The PSG coach says their star can play to face their European opponents this week in the Champions League but, while he regains his form, teammates must contribute. It won’t be Doué. The promising talent was also hurt in September. 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 reserves his top displays for the important matches in the European stage; he is yet to score in Ligue 1 this season. Barcola, PSG’s top scorer in all competitions this season, has just a single strike in his last eight games and is in a dry spell. An attacker with hot streaks, the form will certainly come back, but he isn't the solution to be the goalscorer in this expensively assembled PSG attack.

Their center forward got the decisive goal against Nice but will he remain in the lineup in the team?

This was the role assigned to Gonçalo Ramos when he arrived in recently. The Portugal striker hit the century of 100 appearances for PSG against Nice, but he has been a substitute in more than half of those appearances. Having scored a significant portion after coming on as a substitute, he has effectively embraced the role of the “super-sub”, partly because of his ineffectiveness when selected, but mostly due to his manager’s reluctance to start with a conventional No 9. “What explains my bench scoring record? The simple reason is my appearances are mainly from the bench,” remarked Ramos after the match.

Decisive Period

As scoring has decreased across the attacking unit, his late decisive goal has given his boss decisions to make. The centre-forward failed to convert several opportunities before scoring his final and winning the match, but the fact that the team's clearest openings fell to him is revealing. He’s an instinctive poacher and that is what PSG were acquiring when they paid substantial money. “His role is vital for us because he is always ready for every match, whether he starts or not,” said the manager. “Five minutes of Gonçalo on the pitch are productive periods.” It may be time for the super-sub to play a starring role.

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

League Standings

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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