Luis Enrique Says PSG Are Still Getting The Best Of Dembelenewsline24

Paris Saint-Germain head to Angers aiming to extend their strong Ligue 1 lead, with Luis Enrique praising Ousmane Dembele’s influence despite limited starts. PSG are four points clear of Lens, hold four straight clean sheets, and face Angers just days before a demanding Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

Dembele shares top spot in PSG’s Ligue 1 scoring chart with 10 goals and also has six assists, only one fewer than Vitinha. Yet Dembele has started just nine of 19 league matches and played 930 minutes, a relatively low figure in a squad preparing for a demanding run of fixtures.

For Luis Enrique, Dembele’s reduced minutes have not limited influence or status within Paris Saint-Germain’s attack. Luis Enrique said of Dembele: “For us, he is very important; he is the Ballon d’Or winner, a leader in both attacking and defensive work, he said of Dembele. We have managed this season very well, with Ousmane and his feel for the game. We are still seeing the best version of Dembele.”

That managed workload now comes under pressure as Paris Saint-Germain visit Angers in Ligue 1 before travelling to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Luis Enrique continues to value Dembele’s creativity and finishing as PSG chase domestic control and European progress, with rotation designed to keep the forward fresh for both competitions.

PSG’s defensive numbers are equally important for Luis Enrique, with four consecutive clean sheets across all competitions. That run includes strong away displays, and Luis Enrique sees their organisation without the ball as a core part of Paris Saint-Germain’s identity, especially when juggling league commitments with Champions League pressure.

On that defensive streak, Luis Enrique stated: “Regarding clean sheets, we did what we always do, he added. We’re always looking to improve. When we score four or five goals, we feel like we’ve done something different. The stats have shown our level throughout the season. It was very high. It’s an obsession for us; I love playing good football, but you have to know how to defend to do that, press a lot while trying to win the ball back. We have to be courageous and ambitious. Playing good football is a prerequisite for playing in our team.”

Paris Saint-Germain form, Angers struggles and key Ligue 1 numbers

Paris Saint-Germain remain top of Ligue 1 with a four-point advantage over Lens, and the postponement of their direct meeting leaves extra importance on matches against lower-half sides. PSG have collected 45 points from 15 league games against bottom-half teams, winning every one, the best such record in France this season.

Angers enter the match in 13th place after a five-game winless run in Ligue 1, though Alexandre Dujeux’s team did rally for a 1-1 draw against Le Havre in their previous outing. Angers have only one win from their last nine league games, a 1-0 success at Nantes in March, and have not won in four straight home fixtures.

Historic form strongly favours Paris Saint-Germain. Angers have lost the last 17 Ligue 1 meetings with PSG, conceding 47 goals in that stretch, the longest losing sequence for one club against a single opponent in French top-flight history. PSG are also unbeaten in 13 league trips to Angers, with nine wins and four draws, taking victory in each of the last seven.

Marquinhos carries an individual record into this fixture that underlines Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance. The PSG captain has won all 11 Ligue 1 matches played against Angers. If PSG win again, Marquinhos would hold the most top-flight appearances versus one opponent without dropping points, dating back to at least the 1947-48 season.

Angers’ main attacking threat has been right-back Lilian Raolisoa, who has contributed to four of the club’s last five league goals, with one goal and three assists. Raolisoa leads Angers for combined goals and assists this season with six, from two goals and four assists, which is the lowest total for any team’s top contributor in Ligue 1.

Recent defensive performance adds to Paris Saint-Germain’s confidence. PSG have secured four successive away clean sheets in all competitions, last matched between September and October 2020, when they achieved five. Angers, meanwhile, must improve in both penalty areas if they want to end that sequence and move away from the lower half.

OPTA’s model underlines the challenge for Angers and the strength of Paris Saint-Germain’s position before kick-off. The win probability figures are shown below.

Next, both clubs turn attention fully to this league meeting, which sits between major fixtures for Paris Saint-Germain and could influence momentum at both ends of the table.