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Why Ousmane Dembele's legendary status is assured as PSG face Barcelona in mouthwatering showdown
Ousmane Dembele looks set to be absent when Paris Saint-Germain, the France striker’s current employers, face his former club Barcelona in Matchday Two of the Champions League tomorrow.
Dembele sustained a serious hamstring injury sustained while playing for his country against Ukraine on September 5 and has not been seen since.
He was expected to be sidelined for around six weeks and PSG announced on Sunday evening that Dembele was heading to Qatar as part of his rehabilitation process.
The 28-year-old will spend time at Aspetar hospital in Doha, a facility often used by last season’s Champions League winners to help the recovery of their injured stars.
It would be a crying shame that a player of Dembele’s talent should play no part when PSG take on Barcelona in Spain on Wednesday night.
Patrick Smith - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
The mouthwatering showdown is a rerun of their Champions League quarter-final two seasons ago, when Dembele scored in both legs of PSG’s thrilling 6-4 aggregate win.
Nevertheless, Dembele will still feature prominently in conversation as the build-up to an eagerly-anticipated game intensifies.
For his impact since swapping Catalonia for the French capital in August 2023 has been quite remarkable.
Being crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner earlier this month was proof enough.
That confirmed this supremely-talented player’s staggering influence on PSG’s fortunes since arriving from Barcelona in a £43.5million transfer two summers ago.
Dembele scored six goals and made 14 assists as PSG won a domestic league and cup double during his debut campaign in 2023-24.
It was nothing compared to his exploits last term when the Normandy-born forward reached glorious new heights as his team clinched an historic treble.
Luis Enrique’s side won Ligue 1, Coupe de France and lifted the European Cup for the first time in their history before also reaching the final of the Club World Cup this summer.
Getty
Dembele scored 35 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions, making him the most dangerous attacking player in European football.
That Dembele never hit those kind of levels during his six seasons at Barcelona merely adds intrigue to his success story at PSG.
He began his career at Rennes before leaving for Borussia Dortmund in July 2016.
He spent just one season in Germany before Barca snapped up him for an astonishing £117million fee.
It would be harsh to label Dembele a complete flop during his time with the Spanish giants – but it wouldn’t be too far wide of the mark.
He scored just 40 goals in 185 games for Barcelona; not the kind of figures to justify his hefty transfer fee.
That he departed Camp Nou for a third of the amount Barcelona paid for him said much for the minimal impact he made during his time there.
Dembele’s first season at Paris Saint-Germain hardly set the pulses racing – there were injury problems and concerns over his attitude.
He also played largely out wide on the right flank.
Still, Dembele made his mark in two key games against Barcelona.
On April 10, 2024, he scored his first Champions League goal for PSG in a 3–2 home defeat against his former club in the quarter-final first leg.
In the second leg six days later, he notched PSG’s first goal in a 4–1 away victory, helping to secure their qualification for the semi-finals and taking home the player of the match award.
Crucially, his ability was never in doubt and Enrique trusted him to come good.
That, he most certainly did.
The departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid in July 2024 can also be seen as a key development in Dembele taking a more central role – quite literally – at PSG.
He has since operated more as a false nine; supporting the attack from a position that suits with goals and assists. And plenty of them.
Dembele may never enjoy a better season than he did last term as PSG won everything.
Their 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich saw them crowned champions of Europe for the first time.
Dembele, fittingly, was recognised his extraordinary impact on the club’s fortunes by winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time.
He was a clear winner too, amassing 1380 points; some way ahead of teenage Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal who finished runner-up with 1059 and PSG team-mate Vitinha in third with 703.
Dembele will no doubt tune to Wednesday’s game from somewhere in Doha as his rehab continues.
And he can do so in the knowledge that he is officially the best player on the planet.
Full Champions League fixture list for Matchday Two
Tuesday 30 September
- Atalanta vs Club Brugge
- Kairat vs Real Madrid
- Atletico Madrid vs Eintracht Frankfurt
- Bodø / Glimt vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Chelsea vs Benfica
- Galatasaray vs Liverpool
- Inter Milan vs Slavia Prague
- Marseille vs Ajax
- Pafos vs Bayern Munich
Wednesday 1 October
- Qarabağ vs Copenhagen
- Union Saint-Gilloise vs Newcastle United
- Arsenal vs Olympiakos
- Barcelona vs PSG
- Bayer Leverkusen vs PSV
- Borussia Dortmund vs Athletic Club
- Monaco vs Manchester City
- Napoli vs Sporting CP
- Villarreal vs Juventus
How to watch the Champions League in the U.S. on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch select matches in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
Between September 25 - October 3, 2025 new customers can get a 20% discount on annual subscription.
An annual upfront payment is now $179.99 reduced from $224.99, while paying monthly for 12 months is $15.99 (down from $19.99) and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high-definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, offering differing selections of sports in each. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
