Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and captain Marquinhos were on Monday named in Paris Saint-Germain’s squad to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League after recovering from injuries.
Their inclusion for Tuesday’s group-stage encounter is a timely boost for coach Luis Enrique, whose team has been hampered by injuries this season.
Dembélé, 28, had been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty with France in early September. The newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner underwent rehabilitation at a specialist clinic in Qatar before returning to training last week.
He missed PSG’s 3–3 draw with Strasbourg on Friday but could feature in Germany as the defending European champions aim for their third consecutive win in the competition.
“It’s always positive when important players return,” midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery told reporters. “Even though Dembélé doesn’t speak much, he leads by example.”
Leverkusen centre-back Loïc Badé, who also represents France, described Dembélé as “a complete player with many qualities.”
“He won the Ballon d’Or — that says a lot,” Badé said. “He’s effective with both feet and has no obvious weakness. The only way to stop him is by defending collectively and staying compact.”
Leverkusen, Bundesliga champions in 2024, drew with FC Copenhagen and PSV Eindhoven in their opening two Champions League matches.
Speaking ahead of the game, PSG coach Luis Enrique praised Leverkusen’s progress. “They’ve strengthened their squad and adapted well under their new coach,” he said. “They’re organised, capable of defending deep, and can also press effectively.”
