Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele returns for PSG after six weeks out

Dembele’s return for Tuesday’s league stage recreation will come as a great addition for coach Luis Enrique, whose aspect has been battling accidents this season.

Dembele, 28, has been out since injuring a hamstring whereas on worldwide obligation with France in early September.

He had been recuperating at a specialist clinic in Qatar and returned to coaching final week.

He missed out on PSG’s entertaining 3-3 draw towards Strasbourg on Friday however might play some function in Germany because the European champions search to make it three wins out of three within the Champions League thus far this season.

Leverkusen centre-back Loic Bade, Dembele’s teammate within the France squad, informed reporters Monday there was “no secret recipe” to stopping the PSG ahead, calling him “a complete player with several qualities”.

“He won the Ballon d’Or — of course he’s got a lot of quality. He’s good with both feet. I don’t think he’s got a weak side,” Bade mentioned.

“You need to think as a team, defend as a team and be as compact with your teammates as possible.”

PSG welcomed again forwards Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was a substitute, towards Strasbourg.

They are, nonetheless, nonetheless lacking midfield duo Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves, though captain Marquinhos, one other latest damage absentee, has travelled to Germany with the squad.

Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand, who took over when former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was sacked in September after simply two league video games, mentioned PSG’s high-energy press was “a weapon” but in addition “a risk.”

“They’re a super team who have developed further since last year,” the Dane mentioned.

“(But) we have a lot of quality in our team and we want to show it. We’ve got trust in our game.”

Leverkusen, Bundesliga champions in 2024, drew with FC Copenhagen and PSV Eindhoven of their first two Champions League video games of the season

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