Luis Enrique is assured that Ousmane Dembele can get pleasure from an much more profitable yr with Paris Saint-Germain in 2025-26 after spearheading the membership to glory final season.
Dembele recorded 46 purpose contributions (33 targets, 13 assists) in all competitions final time period, a complete solely bettered by seven gamers throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues.
The Frenchman additionally grew to become the primary participant to supply two assists in a Champions League last since 2018 throughout their 5-0 overcome Inter again in June.
His 14 purpose involvements (eight targets, six assists) was additionally the second-most by a French participant in a single season after Karim Benzema for Actual Madrid in 2021-22 (17).
Dembele additionally helped PSG full a surprising comeback within the UEFA Tremendous Cup, teeing up Goncalo Ramos for a late equaliser earlier than his group received the title on penalties towards Tottenham.
His shows have seen him backed to scoop this yr’s Ballon d’Or, although he faces robust competitors from Barcelona duo Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in addition to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
He was launched into the motion within the 61st minute of their opening-day win over Nantes, with solely Need Doue (4) and Lee Kang-In (three) creating extra possibilities (two, degree with Fabian Ruiz and Ibrahim Mbaye) within the match.
“I believe this season is a giant problem for Ousmane,” Luis Enrique mentioned. “Final yr was unbelievable, but I’m satisfied that he can enhance his efficiency, surely.
“It’s important to be very courageous to say that (about Dembele), however I believe he has acquired the extent. He’s a very vital participant for us.
“He has high quality in assault and likewise in defence. I can see how completely satisfied he’s; I hope this yr will likely be even higher.”
PSG will likely be trying to preserve their unbeaten begin to their Ligue 1 title defence once they welcome Angers to the Parc des Princes this Friday.
It marks the primary dwelling sport for the Parisiens since their 3-1 win over Auxerre on the ultimate day of final season, with their homecoming set to be a special day.
The membership will current 5 trophies they received final season, which incorporates their Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions crowns.
There can even be dwelling debuts for summer time signings Illia Zabarnyi and Tremendous Cup hero Lucas Chevalier, and Luis Enrique is relishing the possibility to be again on dwelling turf.
“It’s essential for us to see our followers once more and return to the Parc des Princes after 10 away matches,” Luis Enrique added.
“We’ve actually missed the stadium and the followers. We all know that the environment all the time makes a distinction.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
PSG – Bradley Barcola
Regardless of not getting on the scoresheet towards Nantes final outing, Barcola impressed along with his dynamic shows and will likely be eager to get off the mark on dwelling soil.
Certainly, the Frenchman ended the sport with a joint-team-high whole for touches within the opposition field (9, degree with Ramos and Mbaye), whereas solely Kang-In (10) performed extra crosses than Barcola (three).
Angers – Herve Koffi
Having saved a clear sheet on his Angers debut towards Paris FC, Koffi can anticipate a a lot busier encounter within the French capital on Friday towards PSG’s star-studded assault.
Koffi was the goalkeeper who made essentially the most saves on the primary matchday of Ligue 1 (seven, at the very least three greater than anybody else). It was additionally his highest tally in a match within the top-flight, forward of his 5 towards PSG and Good.
MATCH PREDICTION: PSG WIN
PSG haven’t misplaced any of their final 27 Ligue 1 video games towards Angers (W20 D7). Solely Monaco towards Montpellier have an extended unbeaten run towards the identical opponent within the league’s historical past (32 between September 1994 and January 2018).
The Parisiens have additionally received every of their final 10 league dwelling video games towards Angers, their longest present run towards present opponents within the top-flight in 2025-26.
And Luis Enrique will wish to get off to a constructive begin in entrance of their dwelling followers. Certainly, eight of the final 11 Ligue 1 champions have triumphed of their first dwelling sport of a league season (D1 L2), whereas not one of the earlier 4 had received (D2 L2).
Angers, in the meantime, have misplaced 4 of their final 5 away video games in Ligue 1 (W1), as many as of their first 12 because the begin of the 2024-25 season (W4 D4), however come into the encounter with a little bit of kind beneath their belt.
They’ve received three of their final 4 Ligue 1 video games between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons (L1), another than of their earlier 13 (W2 D2 L9), however will face an enormous check of their resilience right here.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
PSG – 82.6%
Draw – 10.6%
Angers – 6.8%
