Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Champions League, PSG, Paris Saint-Germain
Chris Nee
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique might have to contend with a significant injury blow for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal.
PSG won the first leg 1-0 on Tuesday, putting the French champions in the driving seat ahead of next Wednesday's second leg in Paris.
With the tie finely balanced and both Liverpool and Aston Villa already on PSG's list of fallen foes, a confident Enrique is looking forward to the challenge of Arsenal's visit as the teams meet again with a Champions League final place on the line.
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Both clubs have played and lost one Champions League final and the fight for the right to try again next month will be keenly contested at the Parc des Princes.
They can ill afford to lose key players ahead of the conclusion of the tie.
Ousmane Dembele scored the Parisians' goal at the Emirates Stadium with just three minutes played, ending a personal mini-drought in front of goal and giving his team a significant advantage after the first leg.
But he had to be withdrawn 20 minutes from the end of the game in North London and was replaced by the highly capable Bradley Barcola, who started the second leg of PSG's quarter-final against Villa earlier this month.
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According to the respected journalist Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport, the 27-year-old French striker picked up an injury that will require some examination.
"Ousmane Dembele has suffered a hamstring injury. He will be monitored in the coming days," said Hawkins, a journalist and in-stadium reporter with good connections at PSG.
Dembele is a crucial player for his team and has now scored eight Champions League goals this season on top of 21 in the French top division.
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Fortunately for PSG fans, Luis Enrique told the media that Dembele's injury is "nothing serious" but all eyes will be on the striker's fitness in the days ahead.
PSG are due to visit Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on Saturday but the head coach's selection for that match will offer no clues.
With a 20-point gap between themselves and Marseille in second, PSG have already won the French title again without breaking a sweat.