PSG's Emergency Playbook: Enrique's High-Stakes Plan to Outsmart Bayern

Key decisions ahead of Bayern clash

Spanish coach Luis Enrique, Paris Saint‑Germain’s manager, will need to make several tough calls when selecting the starting XI for the Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich.

The Bavarian giants travel to Paris for the fourth round of the group stage, with both clubs on nine points after three matches. They share the podium with Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Inter Milan, who all started the campaign with maximum points.

PSG began their campaign with a 4-0 win over Atalanta in France, then beat Barcelona 2-1 at Montjuïc, and most recently crushed Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 in Germany.

Bayern opened with a 3-1 win at Chelsea, followed by a 5-1 victory in Cyprus, and a 4-0 annihilation of Club Brugge in Munich.

Lineups and injury notes

RMC reports that Enrique could field Lucas Chevalier in goal, with Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes at full-back and Willian Patcho alongside them. Marquinhos is expected to partner Patcho to replace the suspended Ilya Zabarnyi.

The Parisian midfield is likely to feature Vitinha and Joao Neves, while a debate rages between Warren Zaïre-Emery and Fabian Ruiz, who has just returned from injury and played a few minutes against Nice. In attack, Enrique is leaning toward a front three that includes Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, and Seny Mayolo, given Dembélé’s partial readiness after thigh discomfort in the last match against Nice.

Mont Carlo’s report notes that Dembélé trained on Sunday and Monday but Enrique will not risk him in a high-stakes clash unless absolutely necessary.

In the press conference ahead of the Bayern game, Enrique stated: “We won’t risk any player, but Dembélé is ready. He trained over the past two weeks and in the last two games; he will play at some stage, but I’ll decide the duration of his involvement with the team.”

PSG’s 2025-2026 results

PSG have secured seven victories this season and suffered a solitary defeat to fierce rival Marseille in a clash that coincided with the Ballon d’Or ceremony, which was delayed by weather. They have drawn three times as well.

Their domestic wins include a 1-0 result against Nantes and Angers in the opening two rounds, followed by a 6-3 thrashing of Toulouse, a 2-0 win over Lens, and a 2-0 victory against Auxerre.

Before the October international break, PSG drew away to Lille (1-1) and followed with a 3-3 home draw against Strasbourg, briefly losing top spot before reclaiming it with a late win over Brest. They also drew with Lorient and narrowly beat Nice in a continued bid to win a fifth consecutive league title.

In Europe, PSG have won four straight matches to start their Champions League campaign, opening with a win over Atalanta, then a 2-1 defeat of Barcelona, and a 7-2 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round.

Looking ahead to the clash with Bayern Munich, Enrique’s plan appears to balance caution with aggression, aiming to neutralize Bayern’s counter-threat while exploiting PSG’s attacking depth.

Enrique concluded the press conference by insisting: “We won’t risk any player, but Dembélé is ready; he has trained for two weeks and played the last two matches. He’ll play against Bayern, but I don’t know for how long; I’ll decide with the staff.”

PSG’s season snapshot

PSG’s season has featured strong finishing in Europe, a high-scoring attack, and a steady league performance as they chase the domestic crown for a fifth consecutive season. The club’s European form has provided confidence heading into a clash that could determine who leads Group A.

Across the pitch, Bayern’s form has been equally impressive, with a mix of decisive wins and relentless pressure, setting up a classic Champions League duel between two of Europe’s most storied clubs.

As the teams prepare to meet, the tactical cat-and-mouse game will center on midfields and ball progression, with each coach hoping to outthink the other over 90 minutes plus any stoppage time—because in football, even a plan with 10 steps can go to waste in 10 seconds when the ball finds a gap.

And yes, if you're betting on this one, remember: the scoreboard might tilt, but the drama never takes a timeout in the Champions League.

Punchline time, sniper-style:

1) Enrique’s playbook is so sharp it could slice through Bayern’s press like a laser—not a single paper cut, just a clean hit to the back of the net.

2) If football clubs had as many replays as a TV show, PSG’s plan would still be in season 1, and Bayern would be on season 3—talk about cliffhangers with cleats.