Early Blow in Paris
Paris Saint-Germain’s night took a grim turn when Ousmane Dembélé — freshly crowned Ballon d’Or winner — was forced off after just 25 minutes of their Champions League clash against Bayern Munich. The French winger, who entered the game in fine form, appeared to clutch his thigh in pain moments after seeing his would-be equaliser ruled out by VAR.
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The Goal That Never Was
In the 23rd minute, Dembélé seemed to have restored parity for PSG. Achraf Hakimi delivered a looping cross that Dembélé chested down and poked past Manuel Neuer, sparking wild celebrations at the Parc des Princes. However, joy turned to disbelief when VAR intervened. Replays revealed that the winger had drifted narrowly offside in the build-up.
Two minutes later, the night worsened. After a short sprint, Dembélé grimaced, touched his hamstring, and immediately gestured to the bench. Luis Enrique had no choice but to summon Bradley Barcola, while Dembélé walked straight down the tunnel, visibly distraught.
History Repeats Itself
For PSG supporters, this was a hauntingly familiar scene. Only days earlier, Dembélé had appeared in discomfort during the Ligue 1 victory over OGC Nice. Cameras caught him wincing and telling Hakimi, “It hurts so bad… my hamstring.” The 28-year-old’s history of muscular problems — stretching back to his Barcelona years — has become a recurring storyline, and just as he seemed to rediscover his rhythm, misfortune struck again.
Luis Enrique’s Confidence Backfires
Before the match, Luis Enrique had tried to dispel any doubts about his star man’s fitness.
“He’s fully fit,” the manager declared. “There’s no risk. He’s trained well and completed every session.”
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But that optimism proved short-lived. Within half an hour, Dembélé was back in the treatment room, frustration written all over his face. It was only his fourth appearance since returning from an injury sustained with France in September, and now, early reports suggest another extended spell on the sidelines may await.
After the game, Enrique struck a cautious tone:
“I think it’s a new issue, not a recurrence,” he told Canal+. “We’ll assess it carefully — his fitness is our top priority.”
Bayern Ruthless as PSG Unravel
With Dembélé gone, PSG’s attacking spark vanished. Bayern Munich, led by Vincent Kompany, seized full control. Luis Díaz, already on the scoresheet, doubled Bayern’s advantage seven minutes later with a clinical finish following a defensive lapse.
Moments later, chaos struck again — this time for Achraf Hakimi. The Moroccan full-back was the victim of a dangerous, high tackle from Díaz, who caught his ankle from behind. After consulting VAR, referee Maurizio Mariani upgraded the yellow card to a straight red. Hakimi had to be carried off in tears — a devastating blow with the Africa Cup of Nations just weeks away, where he was expected to captain Morocco on home soil.
A Costly Night in the Capital
By full-time, PSG’s evening had turned disastrous. Dembélé and Hakimi were both injured, tempers flared, and their Champions League hopes took a major dent. Joao Neves pulled one back late in the second half, but Bayern held firm to claim a 2-1 victory — their fourth consecutive win of the group stage.
The result leaves PSG trailing in second place, while Kompany’s side sit comfortably atop the table with 12 points from four matches. Up next for the German champions is a high-stakes showdown with Arsenal at the Emirates on November 26 — a battle for control of Group A that promises fireworks.
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