Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele is set to make his long-awaited return to action as Paris Saint-Germain prepare to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday. The French winger, sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring injury, was named in coach Luis Enrique’s travelling squad for the crucial group-stage encounter in Germany.
Dembele, 28, sustained the injury while on international duty with France in early September and has since undergone rehabilitation at a specialist clinic in Qatar. After resuming full training last week, his inclusion in the matchday squad marks a significant boost for PSG, who have been hampered by a string of injuries across key positions this season.
Although he missed Friday’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Strasbourg in Ligue 1, Dembele is expected to play a part in Germany as PSG aim to extend their perfect start to the Champions League campaign with a third straight victory. His creativity, pace, and ambidextrous dribbling are expected to add a new dimension to an attack that has occasionally lacked sharpness in recent weeks.
Leverkusen defender Loic Bade, who shared the France dressing room with Dembele, acknowledged the challenge of containing his compatriot. “He won the Ballon d’Or — of course he’s got a lot of quality,” Bade said. “He’s good with both feet. I don’t think he’s got a weak side. You need to think as a team, defend as a team and be as compact with your teammates as possible.”
PSG’s injury list remains a concern despite Dembele’s return. While forwards Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia featured in the weekend draw — the latter coming off the bench — midfield duo Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves are still unavailable. Captain Marquinhos, who recently recovered from a muscle problem, has also travelled with the squad, offering further defensive reinforcement.
On the other side, Leverkusen will be aiming to secure their first win of the European campaign after draws against FC Copenhagen and PSV Eindhoven. New coach Kasper Hjulmand, who replaced Erik ten Hag in September, praised PSG’s aggressive pressing style but suggested it could also be exploited. “They’re a super team who have developed further since last year,” the Dane said. “Their press is a weapon, but also a risk. We have a lot of quality in our team and we want to show it.”
For PSG, the return of their Ballon d’Or-winning forward could not come at a better time. As they continue to navigate a demanding season, Dembele’s reintroduction may provide the spark needed to maintain momentum both domestically and in Europe.
