The Numbers Behind PSG's Dominance: How Six Key Players Are Powering a Historic Season
An in-depth, data-driven breakdown of Hakimi, Mendes, Barcola, Dembele, Neves, and Vitinha — the core behind Paris Saint-Germain's on-ball and off-ball supremacy in 2024/25.
Introduction
When Luis Enrique took charge of Paris Saint-Germain, he inherited more than just a squad of superstars—he inherited a club in need of an identity. Over the past couple of transfer windows, PSG have quietly been one of Europe’s smartest operators in the mercato. Rather than chasing only headline names, they now possess special profiles:
Wide players who are not only quick and skillful 1v1 but also relentless workers off the ball.
A midfield capable of dominating possession and progressing play at a Champions League level.
And what I believe to be the best full-back pairing in Europe in Hakimi and Mendes.
But beyond recruitment, much of PSG’s success this season comes down to Enrique’s clear and effective style. In my eyes, Enrique is one of the most tactically consistent managers in Europe—rarely outperformed, often only out of luck. His PSG is organized, flexible, and dominant both on and off the ball.
In this analysis, I will break down the six players who, in my opinion, are the backbone of this season's dominance:
👉 Hakimi
👉 Mendes
👉 Barcola
👉 Dembele
👉 Neves
👉 Vitinha
We'll go through the data, the roles, and the why behind each of them, to understand how PSG evolved into one of the most formidable teams in Europe.
The Best Full-Back Duo in Europe?
For me, it’s not even a debate — Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes form the best full-back pairing in Europe right now. What makes them so special is not just their talent but their evolution under Luis Enrique, who has turned them into complete modern full-backs, balancing defensive duties, high-intensity pressing, and advanced ball progression.
🟣 Achraf Hakimi — The Moroccan Pride Leading the Right Flank
Hakimi’s development has been phenomenal. Under Enrique, he's evolved from a dynamic wing-back into a complete offensive weapon. His numbers this season are absurd:
100th percentile in progressive carries, progressive passes received, and carries into the penalty area.
100th percentile for non-penalty expected goals and assists combined.
100th percentile in touches in the attacking third.
These aren’t just good full-back numbers — they are winger-level contributions from a right-back.
His similarity model shows he's a category of his own, with the closest profiles being more traditional attacking full-backs like Theo Hernandez and Quentin Merlin, yet none quite match his production.
🟣 Nuno Mendes — The Tank on the Left
On the opposite flank, Nuno Mendes is a physical monster.
His ability to:
Dominate duels,
Carry the ball forward (95th to 98th percentiles in progressive metrics),
And create shooting opportunities (98th percentile in shots creating actions)
makes him one of the most balanced and dangerous left-backs around.
Under Enrique, Mendes looks more in control, more decisive, and has refined his defensive positioning without losing his explosiveness going forward.
His similarity model brings up players like:
Theo Hernandez again (showing the elite company he belongs to)
Rasmus Kristensen and Konrad Laimer, versatile, high-energy full-backs.
Vanderson, another Ligue 1 standout.
But none replicate his mix of power, technique, and the ability to contribute directly to chance creation.
What makes this even more wholesome?
In the similarity model based on the 2024-25 season, Hakimi’s closest profile is Nuno Mendes. And Mendes’ closest profile is Hakimi.
This is not just coincidence. It’s the result of two players performing at the absolute peak of their roles, within the same system, under the same manager.
Together, Hakimi and Mendes don’t just overlap and cross — they form the base of PSG's offensive mechanism. They create width, stretch blocks, and most importantly, constantly feed PSG's creative players higher up the pitch. Their chemistry and timing are crucial, especially in transitions where PSG often kills games.
And the scary part? Both are still young and have room to grow.
✨ João Neves & Vitinha — PSG’s Midfield Reminds Me of the Good Old Days
I'm not saying we're watching Xavi & Iniesta 2.0, but every time I see Neves and Vitinha controlling games, I can't help but think about the golden days of possession-based dominance.
They have that old-school midfield aura — where they take the game by the hands, dictate rhythm, and rarely lose the ball. These two are not just complementary — they are a perfect match for both Ligue 1 battles and Champions League nights.
🔵 João Neves — Portugal’s Midfield Diamond
Neves combines:
Precision (93rd percentile in progressive passing distance).
Vision (100th percentile in through balls).
Ball security (91% pass completion).
Energy (excellent in defensive recoveries and pressing).
His similarity model puts him next to:
Bruno Fernandes (but less risky),
Jude Bellingham (but more conservative),
And even touches of Luka Modrić — the master of controlling games in tight spaces.
Neves is the kind of player who will soon be seen as the metronome of both PSG and Portugal.
🔴 Vitinha — The Silent Architect
Vitinha might not be as flashy, but he's the oil in PSG’s engine:
100th percentile in long pass completion.
99th percentile in progressive passes received and carries.
99th percentile in short and medium pass completion.
Vitinha excels at keeping the ball moving, breaking lines with clean passes, and helping PSG sustain pressure without chaos. His similarity list is full of elite controllers:
Joshua Kimmich,
Luka Modrić again,
Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
This isn’t a player who's just good on the ball — he thrives under pressure and can dictate tempo against anyone.
🟣 The Perfect Combo — And Portugal’s Golden Midfield?
What excites me even more? This duo will form the heart of Portugal’s midfield for years alongside:
Bruno Fernandes — creativity and risk-taker,
Bernardo Silva — ball retention king,
Neves + Vitinha — control, composure, and progressive ball movement.
For me, it looks like Portugal is built to dominate elite nations soon. Technically sound, tactically versatile, and carrying that "don't lose the ball" DNA we all loved from the Spanish midfield of old.
🔥 The Attacking Threat — Barcola & Dembélé, Two Enrique Creations
🟣 Bradley Barcola — The Fearless Winger I Love
I’m a big fan of Barcola, and it’s not just the numbers — it’s his mentality. He’s one of those rare wingers who don’t shy away from duels. He goes at defenders relentlessly and forces teams to adjust constantly.
His data reflects it perfectly:
95th+ percentile for progressive carries, touches in the final third, and take-ons attempted.
99th percentile in non-penalty xG + xAG — he is constantly generating danger.
In a team loaded with stars, Barcola still finds a way to impact games decisively.
His similarity chart is packed with explosive players:
Rafael Leão, Vinicius Júnior, Lamine Yamal — elite wide threats.
Even Ousmane Dembélé himself pops up here — and that’s no coincidence.
But what stands out most is how Luis Enrique has helped him grow. He's not just a dribbler anymore — he reads space better, times his runs smarter, and has sharpened his decision-making in the final third.
🟣 Ousmane Dembélé — Potential Reached
If you had told me a few years ago that Ousmane Dembélé would be:
Carrying teams through big European nights,
Topping goal-scoring and creative charts,
Looking like a reliable superstar instead of just a flashy one…
I would have been skeptical.
Not because he lacked talent (that was never in question) — but because we all wondered if he’d ever figure out how to consistently use it.
Well, under Enrique, he did.
Dembélé’s radar is frankly absurd:
100th percentile almost everywhere — progressive carries, assists, goal-creating actions, you name it.
His similarity chart is loaded with heavyweights:
Luis Díaz, Vinicius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, and even Cody Gakpo.
Dembélé is no longer just a chaos creator — he's a weapon. A structured, deadly, and productive one.
💥 PSG’s Nightmare for Defenders
Now picture this:
Barcola on one side, fearless and direct.
Dembélé having freedom, finally polished and ruthless.
Kvaratskhelia drifting in,
Doué as an additional dribbler,
And Gonçalo Ramos, a true number 9, lurking in the box.
This is not an attack you want to defend against — especially with Hakimi and Mendes providing width and Neves-Vitinha pulling the strings behind.
Enrique has built an scary team. And it’s only getting scarier.
🏆 Conclusion — Is This Finally PSG's Year?
For years, PSG have been chasing the Champions League crown, but often relying too heavily on individual brilliance — be it Neymar, Mbappé, or previously Zlatan Ibrahimović.
This season?
It's different.
It’s the most balanced, cohesive, and complete PSG side I’ve seen. The stars still shine, but what makes them scary is the collective aura they now possess. Every player fits into Enrique’s puzzle — there is no over-dependence, no forced superstar system. They are dominant both with and without the ball, with multiple players capable of stepping up when it matters.
And if they lift the trophy this time?
It won't be an upset — it will simply be a reflection of the work they've put in.
But the story isn’t written yet.
Before thinking about a final, PSG face a massive tactical test against Unai Emery's Aston Villa. Emery is a master of details, defensive structure, and exploiting weaknesses, especially in European competitions.
So let me throw the question to you — the reader:
What could be PSG’s Achilles heel?
Could it be:
The occasional lack of depth behind Hakimi and Mendes?
A midfield that, while technically gifted, may be vulnerable to physical pressing units?
The risk of Enrique's attacking approach leaving space behind against elite counter-attacking teams like Villa?
Let me know what you think. Because whether you believe PSG are destined for glory or another heartbreak — one thing is certain:
This is the best PSG we've seen.