Ousmane Dembele, the forward for Paris St Germain, will miss the upcoming Champions League match against Athletic Bilbao due to illness, the club announced on Tuesday. This news means PSG will have to make adjustments as they head into the crucial fixture.
The 28-year-old player, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2025, has been feeling unwell since Monday. His current health issues have rendered him unfit to participate in the match in Spain, further complicating an already disrupted period for the athlete.
Dembele has faced challenges with match fitness recently, having missed previous domestic games against Olympique Lyonnais and Le Havre because of a calf injury. He made a brief return to the field on November 26, during PSG’s 5-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, where he played just 12 minutes as a substitute.
In the weeks following his comeback, the France international appeared from the bench in a narrow 1-0 loss to Monaco on November 29 and a convincing 5-0 Ligue 1 win over Rennes. In the match against Rennes, he contributed to the team’s efforts by assisting Goncalo Ramos during stoppage time, indicating he was on a path back to form prior to falling ill.
Currently, PSG holds the second position in their 36-team league with a total of 12 points from five matches. On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao is struggling at the 27th spot with only four points, making this a pivotal encounter for both teams as they seek to improve their standings.