Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele was forced off with an apparent injury in the first half of Tuesday’s Champions League play-off match against Monaco, continuing a frustrating season.
Desiree Douai came on as a substitute for Dembélé, scoring twice and contributing to another to give PSG a 3-2 lead in next Wednesday’s return match in Paris.
Dembele was doubted to feature due to a leg problem and was substituted in the 26th minute at Stade Louis II. Ballon d’Or winners are hampered by injury This season. Just before he took it off, television footage showed him rubbing the back of his left calf twice and pulling down his sock.
Coach Luis Enrique said he took no risks by starting Dembele, who was PSG’s top scorer with 35 goals last season.
Coach Luis Enrique said, “We know the condition of each player. There is no risk. They practiced normally.” “We need to check if there is an injury. He got a knock in the first 15 minutes and after that he couldn’t run.”
PSG were leading 0-2 when Dembele was sent off, but they were back up to 2-2 by half-time.
Dembele was injured early in the season. play for france He was sent off in the first half in a similar situation against Bayern Munich in November.
Dembele also struggled with injuries at his former club Barcelona.
Two minutes later, Douet restored PSG’s goal with a low shot into the bottom right corner. Doue put his hands over his ears in celebration, as if to block out recent criticism of his performance.
“The coach makes the choices. Win or lose, it’s always a collective effort,” Due said. “The important thing is to win in games like this.”
Douai was involved in PSG’s equalizer near half-time, but his shot was deflected away by goalkeeper Philipp Cohn. The ball went straight to right-back Achraf Hakimi inside the penalty area, and he beat Cone with a low shot into the bottom left corner.
Douai scored his second goal of the night in the 67th minute, collecting a pass from Warren Zaire-Emery on the edge of the penalty area and curling a low shot into the right corner.
Kone made a good save in the 22nd minute to deny Vicinha a penalty, but Monaco midfielder Alexandre Golovin was sent off for a clumsy foul on Vicinha early in the first half.
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