The Roster Takes Shape
PARIS — Ousmane Dembélé is back in the Paris Saint-Germain squad for the visit to Monaco, three weeks after limping off with a calf injury in the first leg of their Champions League playoff.
The Ballon d'Or winner missed the last three games, but returns for a fixture that carries more than ordinary league weight. Monaco was the site of the original problem; now it's the venue for what could be a different kind of test.
The trophy did not need much decoration; the season had already done most of the talking.
The Margins Are Thin
Coach Luis Enrique did not confirm whether Dembélé will start. That kind of uncertainty is normal when a player comes back from a calf injury — the training ground evaluation matters more than the matchday declaration.
PSG, the defending champion, face Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at Parc des Princes next Wednesday. The schedule does not wait for anyone to find their rhythm.
The Next Test Arrives
The squad is stronger with Dembélé available. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, his presence changes how Monaco's defense must prepare — and how Luis Enrique can manage the game.