More than one match. Wednesday evening, Ousmane Dembélé (26 years old) will experience a very special evening with Paris Saint-Germain. Indeed, the native of Vernon will meet FC Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. A club to which he still belonged, a little over nine months ago. A team with which he also experienced a roller coaster, he who was chosen by the Catalan management in 2017 to take over from Neymar Jr, who left for PSG for 222 million euros. Talented and capable of making differences, Barça’s “Dembouz” has often been betrayed by his body. In six years, he has been on the flank 15 times according to transfer market. He thus missed 784 days of competitions and 141 matches according to the specialized site.
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Despite everything, he was a rather important element, especially last year under Xavi. He finished the previous year with 8 goals and 9 assists in 35 appearances, including 25 as a starter. Despite the confidence of his coach, who was really counting on him this year and who would be angry with him, the 2018 world champion decided that it was time for him to see something else when PSG came knocking on his door . Once his 50 million clause was paid, he signed a five-year contract and officially joined the capital club on July 12. A potential starter, the former Stade Rennais started 26 of the 34 matches in which he took part for the Ile-de-France team.
Read LdC, PSG: Luis Enrique launches the shock against Barça
A new Dembélé at PSG
Regarding his statistics line, we can say that he can greatly improve his number of goals since he has only found the net once for the moment. It was last November 24 against AS Monaco in L1. On the other hand, he is still a formidable passer, since he gave 12 caviars to his teammates. Irregular at the start, Dembélé was able to find his place and prove to be very dangerous. He is often even the one who brings the most danger, whether he is aligned on the right wing or as a false No.9. A position where he has the freedom to roam wherever he wants and where he can bring his creativity. But beyond all that, it must be emphasized that the Frenchman hardly gets injured anymore.
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Which contrasts with his time in Barcelona. There, we have not forgotten Ousmane Dembélé. And since the announcement of the C1 clash between PSG and Barça, his case has been followed even more closely. Brand recently devoted an article to him entitled: “Dembélé is a danger“. The Iberian media explained: “the Frenchman has made headlines during his tenure as culé and most of them, unfortunately, are injury related. He went through a real ordeal with illnesses during his stay at Camp Nou, but at PSG, he doesn’t even look like the same footballer anymore. This season he has only missed a few games, but as a precaution. This gives the feeling that he has left his particular way of the cross behind him.”
A significant danger
Brand precise : “and in addition, he has spectacular stats in terms of assists and in the Champions League, he has become an essential and key player for Luis Enrique (…) Dembélé has started in 7 of the 8 matches that PSG have played so far ‘now in C1. Only one was missed, precisely against Borussia Dortmund, due to an accumulation of cards. Furthermore, not only did he start, but he also completed 95% of the minutes and provided an assist in the match against Real Sociedad. The Madrid daily adds that he will find Xavi, a coach who has always supported him. In Catalonia, Sport also mentioned the case of the Frenchman.
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«Many advantages and some disadvantages of the new Dembélé», headlined the Catalan publication about him. “What if the best Dembélé was a false No. 9? In recent weeks, Luis Enrique has chosen to entrust him with this role at PSG, acting as a “false” nine to break Imanol Alguacil’s plans in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Real Sociedad and against Olympique de Marseille in L1 (…) Luis Enrique has repeatedly highlighted the quality of Dembélé, even assuring that he is “the most destabilizing player in the world”. And if he uses it like this, dispensing with his services on the side, it’s because he considers it appropriate.”
The Mbappé threat worries much more
Sport add: “the ‘mosquito’ can participate in another way in this PSG. He is a Dembélé, who reads the game, who seeks to create superiority and who has a shorter path to the opponent’s goal. Of course, with more risks and responsibilities.” What gives Barça regrets? Spanish football specialist, Juan Carlos Navarro is of this opinion. “Dembélé has been getting better and better at Barcelona. He started off weak and had injuries. But then he improved and had some very interesting matches. I think he left just when he was in his prime. That’s why his departure hurt Barça.”
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He pursues : “in Paris, I found that he was a little irregular. But of course he will be dangerous for Barça. In addition, Barça suffers a lot against fast and vertical players. The old one in the house could hurt. But this is not the number 1 danger for Ivan Vargas, journalist for Fichajes.com. “Here, we are not really interested in his season at PSG. I think Barça are not angry about his departure, since he was replaced. At Barcelona he did almost nothing because he was almost always injured. Wednesday evening, I don’t think he’s Barça’s problem. We are waiting and we are rather wary of Kylian Mbappé. Like him, Dembouz will be one to watch closely against a club he knows and which knows him by heart.
For this PSG-Barça clash, Parions Sport en Ligne and Foot Mercato are offering you a welcome bonus of €90 and €10 without deposit with the code FM10. PSG’s victory can earn you €175 and Barça’s victory can earn you €328.
Pub. 04/08/2024 2:17 p.m. Updated 04/08/2024 3:52 p.m.
2024-04-08 12:17:36
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