Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele is recovering steadily from the injury he sustained during Tuesday night’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg.
Dembele, who scored the match’s only goal early in the first half, was taken off in the second half after appearing to suffer a muscle strain.
The 27-year-old, who has roots in Mauritania and Senegal, opened the scoring just four minutes into the match, driving a low first-time shot from the edge of the area past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
However, his evening was cut short in the 70th minute when he signaled for a substitution, prompting PSG to bring on Bradley Barcola in his place.
According to journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Dembele did not take part in PSG’s training session on Thursday and is unlikely to feature in the club’s upcoming Ligue 1 fixture against Strasbourg this weekend.
His absence raised concerns about his availability for the second leg in London next week, which could prove crucial for both sides in the battle for a place in the final.
In a statement released Thursday evening, PSG provided an official update on the player’s condition.
“Ousmane Dembele has strained his right hamstring. His condition is progressing well. A further assessment will be carried out shortly,” the club’s medical team reported.
PSG’s slim advantage from the first leg now hangs on the fitness of key players like Dembele.
