BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Paris Saint-Germain will head to northern Spain on Wednesday without two of its most influential players, as Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and first-choice goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier have both been ruled out of the Champions League clash with Athletic Bilbao. The French champions confirmed that Dembélé is sidelined by illness, while Chevalier continues to recover from a right ankle injury suffered in late November.
For Dembélé, the setback adds to a turbulent season defined by repeated interruptions. After missing several weeks with a right hamstring injury sustained during international duty for France in September, the winger was further hampered by a left calf problem. He only returned to action at the end of November in PSG’s match against Tottenham, appearing twice in Ligue 1 before being sidelined again. His absence leaves manager Luis Enrique without one of his most dynamic attacking threats at a critical point in the European campaign.
PSG has also been forced to plan without right back Achraf Hakimi, who remains out with a sprained left ankle. The Morocco international faces a tight race to regain full fitness ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on December 21 in his home country. Hakimi’s recovery timeline is being closely monitored by both club and national-team staff. Meanwhile, rising star Désiré Doué returns to the squad after overcoming a muscle strain in his right thigh, giving Enrique at least one option back in midfield.
In goal, Matvei Safonov is expected to feature again in place of Chevalier. The young goalkeeper stepped in after Chevalier was injured during PSG’s loss to Monaco on November 29, a match marked by a violent challenge from Lamine Camara that left Chevalier unable to continue. Safonov has impressed in recent outings, but Wednesday’s match in Bilbao will be one of the most demanding tests of his PSG tenure, with Athletic known for its high-intensity pressing and aggressive forward play.
Despite these injuries, PSG enters the fixture in a strong overall position. The reigning Champions League holders sit second in the league phase standings after five matches, trailing leaders Arsenal by three points. A win in Bilbao would not only keep them firmly in contention for a top seeding in the knockout round but also send a message that the squad’s depth can withstand the loss of several key figures.
With a demanding schedule ahead and the squad stretched thin, PSG’s trip to the Basque Country arrives at a delicate moment. The club’s title defense continues to hinge on its ability to adapt under pressure — and Wednesday’s match will reveal whether Luis Enrique’s side can deliver while navigating another wave of injuries to some of its biggest stars.
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