Doi’s Injury Deepens PSG’s Offensive Dilemma as Nice Looms
31 October 2025
Injury crisis deepens ahead of the Nice game
The Spanish coach Luis Enrique, manager of Paris Saint-Germain, faces a major setback ahead of Saturday’s Ligue 1 clash with Nice. The injury list tightens as young international winger Desire Doi is ruled out with a left thigh tear following PSG’s 1-1 draw with Lorient on Wednesday. Official projections put the lay-off at around eight weeks, with a return expected only near the end of 2025.
Le Championat? No, L’Equipe reported the injury, highlighting the impact on an already stretched attacking unit as PSG prepares for a tough fixture in the league’s eleventh round.
The 20-year-old’s absence will complicate Enrique’s plans, especially as PSG aims to maintain pace at the top of the table.
Rehabilitation plans and squad options under pressure
Desire Doi could travel to Doha for the same rehabilitation program used by teammate Ousmane Dembélé, in hopes of accelerating his return to action. The winger is slated to miss three Champions League matches, amplifying Enrique’s challenge to find reliable attacking options for the Nice match.
In addition to Doi, the French club’s attacking options have drawn scrutiny. Beyond Barcola and Khvicha Kvartatskhelia, young Ibrahim Mbaye hasn’t convinced the coach, and Portuguese striker Gonçalo Ramos remains unavailable.
There are even doubts about Dembélé’s involvement against Nice, as the selection and fitness questions around the Ballon d’Or winner persist after his earlier exhaustion and limited minutes in recent fixtures.
Overall, PSG sit atop Ligue 1 with 21 points, yet their lead has narrowed to two as Monaco chase from 20 points. Other contenders – Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon, and Lens – sit on 19, while Nice occupy eighth on 17, level on goal difference with Lille.
PSG’s season so far: The side has recorded six victories, one defeat to Marseille in the classic, and two draws. Wins against Nantes and Angers (1-0) bookended a dominant 6-3 win over Toulouse, followed by a 2-0 victory against Lens and another 2-0 result versus Auxerre.
Before the international break in October, PSG drew away at Lille (1-1) and then with Strasbourg (3-3) at the Parc des Princes, briefly relinquishing the lead before beating Brest and drawing with Lorient, as they chase a domestic title for a fifth consecutive season. In Europe, the team has been flawless through four matches, opening by lifting the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham on penalties after a 2-2 stalemate.
In the initial Champions League group stage games, PSG swept Atalanta 4-0 at the Parc des Princes, defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Montjuïc, and destroyed Bayer Leverkusen 7-2, signaling strong form as the campaign unfolds.
Under Enrique, PSG reinforced with three summer signings aimed at strengthening defense and goalkeeping, focusing on young talents after a wave of departures. The club added French goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier from Lille, Ukrainian defender Illya Zabarnyi from Bournemouth, and Italian youngster Renato Marino from Roma, signaling a shift toward a sturdier backline and improved shot-stopping. The strategy also contemplates how to convert this defensive solidity into attacking consistency as Doi’s injury tests the depth of the squad.
Punchline 1: If injuries were a transfer window, PSG would be signing a new attacker every week. Punchline 2: When your calendar becomes a medical chart, even the trophy cabinet starts filing for overtime.
