Dembélé’s Thigh Woes Ignite PSG Ahead of Bayern Showdown
2 November 2025
Injury fears ahead of the Bayern clash
Ousmane Dembélé, a star for Paris Saint-Germain and France, stoked concerns at the Parc des Princes a few days before the much‑anticipated showdown with Bayern Munich in the fourth group stage match of the UEFA Champions League.
Dialogues after the win and the injury note
The official Ligue 1 account on X highlighted a quick exchange between Dembélé and his Moroccan teammate Achraf Hakimi as they celebrated a hard‑fought 1‑0 victory over Nice on Saturday in round 11, at the Parc des Princes.
Right thigh pain and the return from a long layoff
As they moved toward the crowd, Dembélé told Hakimi that he was dealing with pain in his right thigh, clutching the spot as the fans cheered.
The Ballon d’Or winner had missed more than six weeks earlier this season after a thigh injury sustained while with France in their September qualifier against Ukraine, ahead of the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
This issue triggered a public clash between the French Football Federation and PSG, who accused Didier Deschamps of contributing to the injuries to Dembélé and another player who was out for about a month.
After recovering, Dembélé returned to action on October 21 and has since appeared in four matches, totaling around 130 minutes—against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, then Brest, Lorient and Nice in Ligue 1.
PSG boss Luis Enrique has faced a spate of injuries since the start of the season, with the latest being the return of Désiré Doué to light duties after another left‑thigh tear during the 1‑1 draw with Lorient last Wednesday.
Recently the Parisians also welcomed back midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves after weeks out with muscle injuries in October.
PSG’s season so far and European campaign
Domestically, PSG have recorded six wins and a single loss to their rival Olympique de Marseille in the classic Ligue 1 clash, plus two draws in other league games.
Their wins over Nantes and Angers were followed by a 6‑3 thrashing of Toulouse, a 2‑0 win over Lens and a 2‑0 victory against Auxerre.
Before the international break in October, they drew away at Lille (1‑1) and then at home to Strasbourg (3‑3), briefly relinquishing top spot before reclaiming it with a win over Brest, a draw with Lorient and a tense victory over Nice as they chase a fifth straight domestic title.
On the continental stage, PSG have played four group games, winning all of them. They began their title defense by lifting the UEFA Super Cup after a penalty shootout win over Tottenham, following a 2‑2 draw in regular time.
In the first three Champions League group games, Paris started with a 4‑0 win over Atalanta, followed by a 2‑1 win against Barcelona in Montjuïc, and a 7‑2 triumph over Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.
Three summer signings under Spaniard Luis Enrique were aimed at strengthening defense and goalkeeping. The club added 23‑year‑old goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier from Lille, 23‑year‑old Ukrainian defender Elia Zabarny from Bournemouth, and 19‑year‑old Italian keeper Renato Marin from Roma.
The French giants continue to push for European glory while managing a demanding schedule that tests a squad coping with injuries and a busy calendar.
Two lighthearted notes to finish: If PSG’s injury luck were a transfer window, it would require a luxury medical package. And if simulations counted as goals, their physio room would be topping the shootouts every night—talk about a different kind of hat‑trick.
