Paris Saint-Germain

The Missing Link in PSG’s Attack

The story of Paris Saint-Germain’s season so far is the lack of goals. It’s the reason they’re struggling in the UEFA Champions League, and even matches in Ligue 1 have been a struggle at times. So, what is the cause for the lack of goals?

When it comes to creating chances, PSG has proven they can do that consistently. However, they’ve also shown an incredible ability to underperform their xG (expected goals) on a consistent basis as well. The best sports betting will have odds for PSG to win the Champions League, but they can improve those odds by fixing their attack first.

Under Luis Enrique, PSG typically plays a false nine with Ousmane Dembélé on the right wing, Bradley Barcola on the left wing, and at times, Marco Asensio, Désiré Doué, or Kang-In Lee in the false nine role. When a traditional striker is needed, Gonçalo Ramos starts in the center of the attack.

In the January transfer window, PSG is about to add another traditional winger in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Napoli star traditionally plays on the left wing, but there’s some thought that he could perhaps fill the false nine role. We’ll have to see what Luis Enrique has planned, but it seems like the missing link is a center-forward that Luis Enrique feels is the right fit.

Ramos has done well when given a chance, but he’s still not a consistent starter, which tells me Luis Enrique doesn’t think the 23-year-old is ready to lead the PSG attack. We know that Randal Kolo Muani isn’t preferred by Luis Enrique, which is why he is being loaned out to Juventus FC in January. So what is the manager looking for?

It’s possible Luis Enrique wants more competition for Barcola on the left wing, and that’s why Kvaratskhelia is being brought in. We’re also seeing increased minutes for Doué, who is capable of playing on the wing but also has excelled more centrally. Luis Enrique may envision a starting attack of Kvaratskhelia, Doué, and Dembélé. If PSG can reach the knockout stage, this is a formation that we could see in the Champions League.

If Doué and the false nine formation isn’t what Luis Enrique is looking for, I expect PSG to spend big in the summer on a striker. It could be Benjamin Šeško at RB Leipzig, Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting, or maybe they revisit the transfer for Victor Osimhen at Galatasaray.

Either way, with the second half of the season underway, we should get a clearer picture of what Luis Enrique envisions for his attack very soon.

Tags Bradley Barcola Desire Doue Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Luis Enrique Ousmane Dembele
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