Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Demb茅l茅’s frustrating season continued when he came off with an apparent injury during the first half of the Champions League playoff against Monaco on Tuesday.
D茅sir茅 Dou茅 came on for Demb茅l茅, scored twice and played a part in the other goal as PSG took a 3-2 lead into the return leg next Wednesday in Paris.
Demb茅l茅 was doubtful for the game because of a leg problem and came off in the 26th minute at Stade Louis II. The Ballon d’Or winner has been this season. Shortly before coming off, television images showed him twice rubbing the back of his left calf and then pulling his sock down.
Coach Luis Enrique said he did not take any risks by starting Demb茅l茅, who was PSG’s top scorer last season with 35 goals.
鈥淲e know what shape each player is in. No risk, he trained normally,” Luis Enrique said. “We鈥檒l have to see if there鈥檚 an injury. He took a knock in the first 15 minutes, then he couldn鈥檛 run.鈥�
PSG was trailing 2-0 when Demb茅l茅 came off but rallied to be level 2-2 by halftime.
Demb茅l茅 was injured early in the season when and then came off in the first half in similar circumstances against Bayern Munich in November.
Demb茅l茅 also struggled with injuries at his former club Barcelona.
Dou茅 pulled a goal back for PSG two minutes later with a low shot into the bottom right corner. Dou茅 cupped his hands over his ears when he celebrated as if to say he was blocking out recent criticism of his performances.
鈥淭he coach makes his choices. It鈥檚 always a collective effort whether we win or lose,鈥� Dou茅 said. 鈥淭he most important thing is to win in this kind of game.鈥�
Dou茅 was involved in PSG’s equalizer close to halftime when his shot was pushed away by goalkeeper Philipp K枚hn. The ball came straight to right back Achraf Hakimi inside the penalty area and he beat K枚hn with a low shot into the bottom left.
Dou茅 grabbed his second of the night in the 67th when he collected a pass from Warren Za茂re-Emery on the edge of the penalty area and guided a low shot into the right corner.
K枚hn had made a good save to stop Vitinha’s penalty in the 22nd and Monaco midfielder Aleksandr Golovin was sent off for a clumsy foul on Vitinha early in the first half.
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