Paris Saint-Germain are facing a wave of injuries after their Champions League win over Barcelona. Three key players — Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Marquinhos — will all be sidelined for the foreseeable future, according to the club.
The most serious case is that of Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian winger has torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee and is expected to be out for several months. PSG said Kvaratskhelia will undergo surgery in the coming days.
Kvaratskhelia's injury occurred early in the second half, in a challenge with Barcelona's Xavi Espart. After dropping back to help in defence, he landed awkwardly, appeared to be in pain and had to leave the pitch.
The other two cases, Dembele and Marquinhos, both involve torn thigh muscles and are expected to keep them out for several weeks. Dembele, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, felt pain in the back of his left thigh in the 19th minute after a burst of pace down the left flank. Captain Marquinhos, meanwhile, has a problem in his right thigh.
Both Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos (32) were substituted in the 60th minute of the match at the Parc des Princes, where PSG won 4-2 to record their third straight Champions League victory.
Coach Luis Enrique managed Dembele carefully in Ligue 1 last season and has rested him twice since the start of this campaign. The French forward scored six goals at the World Cup but has been dogged by injuries, particularly thigh muscle problems during his time at Barcelona.
The 2024-25 season, the one that earned Dembele the Ballon d'Or, was the first time in his career he played a total of 50 matches in a single season. Kvaratskhelia, for his part, also suffered a right ankle injury last season.
PSG host Lyon in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with the two sides level on points at the top of the table.
