On Wednesday night, fans can look forward to a thrilling Champions League clash as Arne Slot’s Liverpool, who lead the league in the competition and are on track for the Premier League title, take on the formidable Paris Saint-Germain, managed by Luis Enrique, who are also sitting pretty at the top of Ligue 1 and are yet to taste defeat in their domestic campaign.
This match could present the Reds with one of their toughest challenges yet. They have not secured a victory in their last five away fixtures against French teams in Europe, managing two draws and three losses. Meanwhile, PSG are enjoying a remarkable five-match winning streak in the Champions League, having netted 21 goals and conceded just three during this run. They have not won six consecutive games in the competition since the 1994/95 season.
Since Kylian Mbappé’s move to Madrid, PSG has appeared more cohesive, with Ousmane Dembélé stepping up impressively this season.
With 18 goals from a total of 66 scored by PSG in the league, the French World Cup winner is currently leading the scoring charts for the top flight in the 2024/25 season.
In the current Champions League campaign, he has netted six goals across eight matches, three more than any other teammates, highlighting his crucial role for Les Rouge et Bleu.
This marks his most successful scoring run in the tournament to date. Previously, he scored two for Dortmund in the 2016/17 season, followed by one for Barcelona in 2017/18 and three more in the 2018/19 season. However, he failed to find the net in 2019/20, then netted three more for Barcelona in 2020/21, none in 2021/22, one in 2022/23, and then scored two after joining PSG in 2023/24.
Historically, he has often played second fiddle to talents like Lionel Messi and Mbappé when it comes to scoring opportunities. Yet, under Luis Enrique, he has embraced a more significant role which seems to be paying off.
But there is a shadow from his past that looms large whenever he faces Liverpool. Fans will vividly remember his missed opportunity in the closing moments of the first leg during the 2019 semi-final, where a one-on-one chance against Alisson could have secured a crucial 4-0 advantage for Barcelona, a deficit that Liverpool would arguably not have been able to overcome.
This miss encapsulated Dembele’s form at the time; consistently promising yet often falling short.
In four seasons (from 2018/19 to 2022/23), the winger managed only 36 goals across all competitions, which may not seem disastrous until you compare it to his current campaign score of 18 goals in just 24 league matches.
Five assists in the Champions League during his time at Barcelona also disappointed, particularly for a player who commanded a whopping €148 million transfer fee—making him the club’s most expensive signing.
His blend of speed and ambidextrous play made him a challenging opponent, yet he was frequently inconsistent. Since joining PSG less than two years ago, he has significantly improved, racking up 32 goals and 18 assists, while becoming more influential in creating chances.
Domestically, his stats have increased across the board, which is expected given PSG’s standing in various competitions (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, French Champions Trophy).
Last season, Dembele set a career-high by creating 23 chances in the Champions League, followed by 19 more in the ongoing season. In contrast, his highest tally for Barcelona was just 15 chances in the 2018/19 season, with a mere two in 2021/22.
His passing accuracy of 76.9 percent in the 2024/25 Champions League is lower than his best, with his form reminiscent of a mid-to-late 70s accuracy from four seasons ago. However, he has achieved a career-best 90.1 percent passing accuracy in this season’s Coupe de France.
There’s been a marked increase in his responsibility and urgency in matches, making him a frequent presence in attacking areas of the pitch, as highlighted in his performance against Brest.
In this season’s Champions League, Dembele has 25 ball recoveries, slightly shy of his previous record of 34 from last season with PSG. By comparison, he had far lower figures at Barcelona—just 16, seven, 12, eight, and 10 recoveries in various seasons, indicating the increased effort he is now putting in Paris.
When it comes to winning possession back, he has managed 25 recoveries this season and 34 last season, which is a significant improvement over his previous campaigns.
While he has never been particularly strong in tackles—having made only two out of five successful tackles in the Champions League this season—there is hope for growth in this area. His best record was 10 successful tackles from 15 attempts last season, showcasing his potential.
With Liverpool expected to come out strong in both legs of the Round of 16, it will be essential for Dembele to demonstrate his commitment and toughness, especially during the upcoming match to set the tone for the return game.
Although tackling might not be his forte, he can certainly deliver, as evidenced by his previous career bests.
His Expected Goals (xG) metric is especially noteworthy. With an xG of 5.17 this season, it’s only surpassed by his Ligue 1 xG rating of 12.58 for 2024/25 and his La Liga xG of 5.51 from the 2020/21 season.
His unpredictable style of play poses a significant threat that will keep Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold busy if Luis Enrique opts to position Dembele on the opposite side of the pitch.
This strategy could thwart the Liverpool duo’s offensive efforts. Among full-backs with over 300 minutes in the competition this season, Robertson and Alexander-Arnold lead in average line-breaking passes per 90 minutes, with 16.6 and 13.9, respectively.
With players like Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and others contributing significantly to PSG’s attack, Liverpool may struggle to establish any sort of rhythm during the match.
Additionally, the visitors have reason to be cautious, as they have suffered defeats in their last three knockout matches in the Champions League. If Dembele is given the license to roam freely in a central position, Liverpool may well find themselves at a disadvantage going into the return leg at Anfield.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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