Dembélé injury forces early exit as PSG fight back from 2-0 down against Monaco, with Doué scoring twice in Champions League playoff clash
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé was forced off the field with an apparent injury during the first half of Tuesday’s Champions League playoff first-leg match against Monaco at Stade Louis II.
The French winger, already battling fitness issues this season, was replaced in the 26th minute by Désiré Doué, who scored twice and set up another as PSG rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead heading into the return leg in Paris next Wednesday.
Dembélé, PSG’s top scorer last season with 35 goals, appeared in visible discomfort before leaving, rubbing the back of his left calf.
Coach Luis Enrique confirmed the player had “taken a knock in the first 15 minutes” and added: “We’ll have to see if there’s an injury. He couldn’t run.”
The 26-year-old has struggled with recurring injuries throughout his career, including previous spells at Barcelona and while playing for the French national team, making his availability for upcoming Ligue 1 and Champions League fixtures uncertain.
Doué made an immediate impact after entering the match, scoring just two minutes later with a low strike into the bottom right corner and celebrating by cupping his hands over his ears.
He then assisted Achraf Hakimi’s equaliser and later scored again in the 67th minute from a pass by Warren Zaïre-Emery.
The match had been chaotic early on, with Monaco’s Aleksandr Golovin sent off and a penalty missed by PSG’s Vitinha in the 22nd minute.
Despite the setbacks, PSG demonstrated resilience, with Doué’s performance highlighting the squad’s depth and collective effort.
Tuesday’s comeback underlined PSG’s ability to respond under pressure but also renewed concerns over Dembélé’s fitness, which remains a key issue for the club as they progress in both domestic and European competitions.
