Paris Saint-Germain paid a heavy price for European success on Tuesday, losing winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for months with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a 4-2 Champions League victory over Barcelona at the Parc des Princes.
The Second-Half Incident at the Parc des Princes
Kvaratskhelia sustained the ACL tear during the second half after landing awkwardly while sprinting back to make a tackle on Barcelona defender Xavi Espart. The Georgia winger looked in severe pain as he clutched his knee before leaving the pitch.
Surgery Scheduled After Official Confirmation
The club confirmed the severity of the diagnosis in an official statement, noting that Kvaratskhelia is set to undergo surgery in the coming days.
Muscular Setbacks for Dembele and Marquinhos
Dembele pulled up clutching the back of his left thigh in the 19th minute following a run down the left flank, while 32-year-old Marquinhos was replaced alongside Kvaratskhelia on the hour mark with a right thigh issue.
Squad Management and Domestic Pressure Ahead
Both Dembele and Marquinhos are expected to miss several weeks of action. PSG coach Luis Enrique has managed Dembele’s minutes carefully, using him sparingly in Ligue 1 last season and resting him twice in the domestic league during the current campaign following a 2024-25 season where the France star played 50 matches overall.
PSG lost Kvaratskhelia (ACL), Marquinhos (thigh) and Ousmane Dembélé (thigh) against Barcelona. Nuno Mendes was already out.The strange thing is that PSG rarely start any of their main players in up to 30 Ligue 1 games. Their average is around 25, yet they struggle with…
Quick Turnaround for Ligue 1 Clash With Lyon
Despite the injuries sustained during the European fixture, two-time defending champions PSG secured their third straight win in the competition. The squad must now turn their attention domestically as they prepare to host Lyon in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with both sides currently level on points at the top of the standings.
🚑 Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembele, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia left the pitch due to injury. A nightmare of a night for PSG. pic.twitter.com/HlhUOXxhH3
