PSG's Phantom Card Crisis: Mayulo Emerges as Enriqué Navigates an Injury Storm
9 October 2025
Injury storms and a rising star at PSG
Paris Saint-Germain are navigating a familiar storm as injuries pile up for the French giants in the 2025-26 season. The Spaniard Louis Enrique has repeatedly faced problems since the campaign began, forcing him to reshuffle his lineup and lean on youngsters to fill the gaps.
In their latest Ligue 1 outing, PSG drew Lille 1-1, a result that keeps them atop the table but came at a cost: six players were sidelined across the pitch.
Enrique started the match without the attacking trident of Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Desire Doue, alongside midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves, and captain Marquinhos, all dealing with muscle injuries.
The rise of Sini Mayulo and a new headache for the French champions
French newspaper L'Equipe highlighted a fresh headache: teenage talent Sini Mayulo, who has blossomed into a key pillar of Enrique's plans.
Mayulo was deployed as a false nine against Barcelona and shone, scoring the equalizer and helping PSG to a 2-1 victory at Montjuïc.
A few days later, Enrique used the 19-year-old in a deeper midfield role to compensate for the absence of Neves and Ruiz.
Mayulo even joined France's youth squad in October but was withdrawn due to a thigh complaint, with a groin issue also noted by the medical staff.
The club's medical team hope rest will suffice for his readiness ahead of the league clash with Strasbourg on October 17 at Parc des Princes.
In the Ligue 1 table, PSG sit at the summit with 16 points after seven rounds, level with several pursuers, while Lille occupy seventh with 11 points.
PSG's European campaign began with two wins: a 4-0 victory over Atalanta at the Parc des Princes and a 2-1 win at Barcelona's Montjuïc, with Leverkusen to come on 21 October.
Head-to-head, PSG have historically outscored Lille, with 45 wins to Lille's 32 and 27 draws in all competitions, their 105th meeting coming recently.
PSG have netted 153 goals in these meetings against Lille, according to Transfermarkt's historical records.
Beyond the scoreboard, the so-called phantom card of the week—an imaginary punishment outcome—has become a running gag among fans, who joke that Paris won't need a new tactic if their injuries keep carding the lineup.
Meanwhile, supporters wonder if the teenage star can sustain the breakout, while Enrique bets on managing workload and keeping players fresh.
As the calendar turns toward mid-October, the stakes rise and the drama intensifies, with the Parc des Princes set to host Strasbourg in a big test.
Fans hope the young man stays healthy, the goals stay plentiful, and Enriqué finally wins a trophy without breaking a sweat.
Punchline 1: If injuries were a tactic, PSG just invented the flare-up—it’s called “invisible defense” and it works great until the camera pans in.
Punchline 2: And if Mayulo keeps scoring, will PSG rename Parc des Princes to Parc des Practice? Either way, it’s a win for the entertainment department.
