Champions League: Illness Rules Out Dembele From PSG Trip To Bilbao

 

Paris Saint-Germain will travel to Spain without Ousmane Dembele, who has been ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Athletic Bilbao after falling ill.

The club confirmed on Tuesday that the 28-year-old forward, who won the 2025 Ballon d’Or, has been unwell since Monday and has not recovered sufficiently for the league-phase match.

Dembele’s setback comes amid a disrupted spell in which he has struggled to maintain match fitness. He previously missed Ligue 1 games against Olympique Lyonnais and Le Havre due to a calf injury before returning on November 26, featuring for 12 minutes in PSG’s 5-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

He made further substitute appearances in the 1-0 defeat to Monaco on November 29 and the 5-0 win over Rennes last weekend, participating for nearly half an hour in each. Against Rennes, he provided a stoppage-time assist for Gonçalo Ramos, suggesting a gradual return to form before illness forced him out again.

PSG have been dealt an additional blow with the unavailability of goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who has yet to recover from an injury sustained during the loss to Monaco following a heavy tackle by Lamine Camara.

Matvei Safonov is expected to start in goal in Chevalier’s absence.

PSG sit second in the expanded 36-team Champions League league phase with 12 points from five matches, while Athletic Bilbao occupy 27th position with four points.

Manager Luis Enrique has named a 19-man squad for the trip to Spain.