Ousmane Dembélé headlines four-man PSG injury list ahead of decisive Monaco clash

Ousmane Dembélé leads a quartet of absentees for Paris Saint-Germain as the French champions prepare for a pivotal Champions League showdown with AS Monaco this week.

PSG travel into the second leg holding a slender 3-2 advantage, knowing that a win or draw will seal qualification to the last 16 for a remarkable 14th consecutive season.

Yet, on the eve of the contest, attention has shifted from momentum to personnel, with injuries threatening to disrupt Luis Enrique’s plans at a crucial stage of the campaign.

Dembélé, sidelined with a calf problem, was absent from training on Monday and has not been included in the matchday squad. Although the winger has begun individual sessions, this encounter arrives too soon in his recovery schedule. There is cautious optimism he could return domestically at the weekend against Le Havre AC.

The attacking setback is compounded by the absence of Quentin Ndjantou, who is nursing a hamstring injury.

In midfield, PSG must also cope without Fabián Ruiz and Senny Mayulu due to knee and calf issues respectively. The reshuffle is likely to see Warren Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha and João Neves entrusted with anchoring the engine room, preserving a blend of youth and control despite the depleted ranks.

Enrique’s side arrive with a strong recent record in knockout football, having claimed four consecutive victories in the competition, including their last two on home soil.

However, this European campaign has not mirrored the heights of last season’s treble-winning exploits, with PSG finishing 11th in the league phase standings and facing mounting scrutiny.

Monaco, too, are grappling with fitness concerns. Paul Pogba, Mohammed Salisu, Takumi Minamino and Lukas Hradecky are ruled out through knee injuries, while Eric Dier and Christian Mawissa remain doubts with hamstring strains.

With both squads stretched, the tie may hinge less on star power and more on resilience as PSG seek to protect their narrow edge and extend their continental consistency.