Dembele faces a major setback in the PSG vs Bayern showdown

Ousmane Dembele’s injury troubles persist. The recent Ballon d’Or winner was forced off the pitch after just over 25 minutes during the high-profile Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich on the morning of November 5 (Vietnam time).

In the 23rd minute, Dembele seemed to have equalized for PSG after skillfully controlling a pass from Achraf Hakimi and finishing past Bayern’s goal. However, the joy was short-lived as VAR intervened. Upon review, the referee ruled Dembele offside in the preceding play, nullifying the goal.

The trouble didn’t end there; just two minutes later, the 28-year-old star appeared to be in pain, grabbing his right thigh and signaling for a substitution. Coach Luis Enrique immediately brought on Lee Kang-in. Dembele left the field with a disappointed expression, heading straight down the tunnel amid heavy silence at Parc des Princes.

This injury is bad news for PSG, especially since just days earlier, Dembele had caused concern among fans during the 1-0 win over Nice. At that time, he complained of “hamstring pain” to Hakimi and was suspected to be experiencing issues with his posterior thigh muscles, a problem that had plagued him throughout his time at Barcelona.

Before the match, coach Luis Enrique reassured fans that Dembele was “completely fit” and “facing no risks.” But the reality proved otherwise. The French forward now faces the possibility of a long-term absence, just weeks after returning to play following an injury while on international duty with France in September.

After the game, Luis Enrique admitted: “I’m not sure about the exact situation. I think it’s unrelated to the previous injury; it seems to be a new issue. We will need to be very cautious.”

PSG’s nightmare didn’t stop there. In the 39th minute, Bayern’s Luis Díaz made a dangerous tackle from behind on Achraf Hakimi, causing the Moroccan defender to writhe in pain on the pitch. Initially, the referee showed a yellow card, but after consulting VAR, Maurizio Mariani upgraded it to a straight red card.

Hakimi exited the pitch crying, amid supportive applause from teammates. This injury came at a critical time, as he is expected to lead Morocco in the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations hosted at home.

Without Dembele and Hakimi, PSG lost their balance completely. Bayern seized the chance to double their lead shortly after, before Joao Neves pulled one back in the 74th minute. The match ended with a 2-1 victory for the “Bavarians”. This defeat not only cost PSG points but also saw them lose two key players, while Vincent Kompany’s Bayern continued their dominant run, winning all four matches and firmly sitting atop the Champions League.

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