The 2025-26 season is just a few games old, but already, Paris Saint-Germain is facing a crisis with injuries to two key players.
During the international break, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué were substituted during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between France and Ukraine due to injury. Afterward, it was revealed that both players will miss at least a month for PSG, likely changing the online football betting odds for several big matches in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League.
While the news is disappointing, the absence of Dembélé and Doué means more opportunities for other players in the squad. Bradley Barcola is the first player to come to mind. Last season, the Frenchman took a back seat to the front three of Dembélé, Doué, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Now, Barcola will be able to slot into the starting lineup, likely on the right wing, and showcase his talents in matches against Olympique de Marseille and FC Barcelona.
Gonçalo Ramos is another player who should see added playing time. Luis Enrique clearly rates his talents; otherwise, the Portugal international would have been moved on, but his role as a traditional striker does not always fit with the style the manager often deploys. With few other options, Luis Enrique will have to depend on Ramos in the middle with Kvara on the left and Barcola on the right.
The rest of the squad should be pretty straightforward. João Neves and Vitinha should be mainstays in the midfield, along with Fabian Ruiz. Should any of those players go down with an injury, Warren Zaïre-Emery is likely the first off the bench.
On defense, PSG will rely on Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi at full-back, and Willian Pacho and either Marquinhos or Illia Zabarnyi at center-back.
In goal, Lucas Chevalier will step in for Gianluigi Donnarumma, who recently left to join Manchester City.
In terms of formation, I think Luis Enrique will go with a 4-3-3, which isn’t as dynamic as the 4-1-2-3 formation, with overlapping players, but it should keep PSG in some of the more difficult domestic and European matches they’ll face without Dembélé and Doué.
The goal is to grind out results, stay in contention to advance to the Champions League knockout stage, and maintain the lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table. PSG has the attacking depth to overcome these injuries, but they’ll have to take their chances and be clinical in front of goal. Overcoming the loss of the leading Ballon d’Or candidate won’t be easy, but if this PSG has proved anything in the past season, it’s to never count them out.
