PSG suffer injury blow as star man misses training ahead of Champions League second leg against Arsenal
Image credit: Getty Images
PSG winger Ousmane Dembele is a major doubt for next week’s UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal after missing team training on Thursday.
Dembele, who scored the only goal in PSG’s 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, limped off in the second half with a suspected hamstring issue. His early strike gave the French champions a slender advantage heading into the return leg at the Parc des Princes, which takes place just eight days after the first encounter.
According to journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Dembele did not participate in training ahead of PSG’s Ligue 1 clash with Strasbourg on Saturday, casting serious doubt over his availability for that fixture. PSG, however, have already secured the Ligue 1 title and may not risk the 27-year-old winger unnecessarily.
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Despite his absence from training, PSG remain cautiously optimistic that Dembele will recover in time for the crucial return leg. French outlet L’Équipe reports that the club is not planning to conduct any medical tests for now, reflecting their confidence in his condition. The coaching staff will continue to monitor him in the coming days to assess any discomfort.
Ousmane Dembele was reportedly absent from PSG training ahead of Saturday’s clash with Strasbourg (Image credit: Getty Images)Dembele has been a key figure for PSG this season, contributing 33 goals in all competitions and registering 11 goal involvements in the Champions League alone. His total of 30 direct goal contributions in 2025 is unmatched across Europe’s top five leagues.
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After Tuesday’s match, Dembele downplayed the injury, telling L’Équipe: “I felt a little something, but it’s okay.”
His manager Luis Enrique echoed a note of caution while maintaining belief in the team’s depth. “It’s not serious, it’s something very minor, but he’s probably a doubt for the second leg,” said Enrique. “We’ll try to get Ousmane back, but if he doesn’t play, we’re still a real team.”
PSG face Strasbourg on Saturday in a fixture of little consequence for the Parisians, while Arsenal prepare to host Bournemouth in a crucial Premier League match before making the trip to Paris for the decider.
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