Tottenham Faces Champions League Nightmare Against Ballon d'Or Superstars

Tottenham Facing Champions League Challenge Against Ballon d'Or Winner

Tottenham Hotspur may find themselves at a disadvantage regarding Ousmane Dembélé's return from a calf problem sustained earlier this month.

After missing several matches at the start of the campaign due to hamstring issues, Dembélé was sidelined for Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 victory against Lyon prior to the international window and was unavailable for France duty.

Nevertheless, the injury isn't considered a prolonged concern as reporter Fabrice Hawkins indicated Dembélé is "anticipated" to feature in PSG's matchday squad when Spurs travel to Paris for their Champions League encounter on Wednesday.

PSG head coach Luis Enrique expressed some uncertainty about an immediate comeback, indicating that daily evaluations will decide the player's participation.

"I cannot say for certain right now, I'm not a medical professional," he informed the media on Friday. "Ousmane is progressing well, he might begin training and participate partially. However, we must exercise caution, and we'll monitor how training develops in the coming weeks. Then we'll witness Ousmane Dembélé return to action."

Dembele Seeks to Rediscover Ballon d'Or Excellence

Dembélé claimed the 2025 Ballon d'Or in September following an impressive campaign with 51 goals and assists across 53 matches last season, helping PSG secure Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and Champions League titles.

However, the winger's productivity has understandably decreased in the current 2025–26 season. He has recorded only five goals and assists in nine outings, totaling 425 minutes—yet maintaining an average of one direct contribution every 85 minutes.

PSG were performing excellently in the Champions League before their defeat to 10-man Bayern Munich in their most recent fixture. The defending champions enter the upcoming round of matches in fifth position—with the top eight securing automatic qualification to the round of 16 when the league stage ends.

Spurs have impressed in their Champions League comeback. Although winning just two of their four matches thus far, Thomas Frank's 10th-placed team remains the sole undefeated side outside the top four positions.