- Ousmane Dembele returns to PSG’s squad after a six-week hamstring injury ahead of the Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
- PSG coach Luis Enrique welcomes Dembele’s comeback as a major boost amid ongoing injury challenges.
- Leverkusen’s Loic Bade describes Ballon d’Or winner Dembele as a complete player with no weakness.
- PSG seeks a third straight Champions League win as Leverkusen aims to secure their first group-stage victory.
Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele has made a timely return to Paris Saint-Germain’s squad ahead of their Champions League encounter with Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
The French forward, who has been out of action for six weeks following a hamstring injury sustained while on international duty in early September, was officially included in PSG’s travelling team to Germany.
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Dembele, 28, had been undergoing rehabilitation at a specialist clinic in Qatar and only recently resumed full training. His comeback is seen as a significant boost for manager Luis Enrique, who has faced a wave of injury setbacks this season.
The former Barcelona winger missed PSG’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Strasbourg last Friday but is now fit enough to feature, either as a starter or from the bench, as the French champions look to extend their unbeaten run in the Champions League.
Leverkusen defender Loic Bade, who plays alongside Dembele in the French national team, praised the winger’s exceptional talent. “He’s a complete player with several qualities,” Bade said. “He won the Ballon d’Or that speaks for itself. He’s strong with both feet and hard to stop. The only way to limit him is by defending as a unit.”
PSG also welcomed back forwards Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in their previous Ligue 1 match, though midfield duo Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves remain unavailable. Captain Marquinhos, recently sidelined by injury, has also travelled to Germany with the squad.
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Meanwhile, Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand, who replaced Erik ten Hag in September, acknowledged PSG’s pressing game as both an asset and a risk. “They’re a super team with a lot of energy,” he said. “But we have quality too, and we’re ready to show it. We trust our system.”
Leverkusen, Bundesliga champions in 2024, have drawn their opening two Champions League games against FC Copenhagen and PSV Eindhoven. They will look to secure their first win of the group stage against a PSG side determined to maintain their perfect record.
