Ousmane Dembélé will miss Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 match against FC Metz on Saturday, and his availability for the return leg of their Champions League play-off against AS Monaco remains uncertain, the club confirmed.
Dembélé was substituted in the 26th minute of Tuesday’s first leg against Monaco with an apparent injury, raising concerns about the forward’s fitness. PSG won the match 3-2, with Désiré Doué scoring twice after replacing Dembélé. Coach Luis Enrique stated he took no risks by starting Dembélé, who had been doubtful due to a leg problem and had trained normally prior to the match. “We know what shape each player is in. No risk, he trained normally,” Enrique said, adding that they would need to assess the extent of the injury after he “took a knock in the first 15 minutes, then he couldn’t run.”
Gonçalo Ramos is expected to lead the attack in Dembélé’s absence against Metz. Ibrahim Mbaye is also set to build his first start since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, potentially displacing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the starting lineup.
PSG’s likely starting eleven for the match against Metz includes Matvey Safonov in goal, with a defense of Lucas Hernandez, Lucas Beraldo, and Illia Zabarnyi, alongside Achraf Hakimi. The midfield is expected to feature Lee Kang-in, Vitinha, and Warren Zaire-Emery, supporting an attack led by Doué and Ramos, with Mbaye completing the front three.
In addition to Dembélé, PSG will also be without Senny Mayulu, Fabián Ruiz, and Quinten Ndjantou for the match against Metz. Dembélé’s injury continues a frustrating season for the Ballon d’Or winner, who has been hampered by fitness issues since joining the club. He previously sustained an injury while playing for France earlier in the season and also came off injured during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich in November.
Tests are currently underway to determine the severity of Dembélé’s latest injury, with the club awaiting results to assess his availability for the second leg against Monaco next Wednesday.
