Many anticipated Ousmane Dembélé would step up following Kylian Mbappé’s departure last summer. Yet, the 2024-25 season has been a frustrating one for the French winger.
While five goals and seven assists across all competitions are respectable numbers, they fall short of expectations, especially given his limited impact in Europe. In the UEFA Champions League, Dembélé has contributed just one assist.
Meanwhile, Mbappé hasn’t had the smoothest transition to life at Real Madrid. The 25-year-old forward’s struggles in Spain seem to be mounting.
On Wednesday, Mbappé had a chance to shine against Liverpool, particularly with Vinicius out, giving him the opportunity to play in his preferred role. Instead, the match turned into a nightmare for the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner.
It’s a Champions League campaign to forget
Ousmane Dembele
Alex Pantling/Getty Images
WhoScored.com spotlighted the biggest xG underperformers in the Champions League this seasonand the two Frenchman stand near the top of this worrying stat:
-2.37: Dembélé
-2.03: Mbappé
-1.89: Luuk de Jong
-1.74: Alexander Sørloth
-1.70: Erling Haaland
Biggest xG underperformers in the #UCL this season:
◎ -2.37 – Ousmane Dembélé
◎ -2.03 – Kylian Mbappé
◎ -1.89 – Luuk de Jong
◎ -1.74 – Alexander Sørloth
◎ -1.70 – Erling Haaland pic.twitter.com/dpMQeTGebY
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) November 28, 2024
Before long, the adaptation excuses will wear thin, and questions may arise about whether Mbappé’s dream move is turning into a nightmare. As for Dembélé, his performances have been reminiscent of the inconsistent version of himself that he showed for years at Barça.