Kvaratskhelia tears ACL against Barcelona in major blow to PSG's Champions League defence

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will miss the rest of the season after Paris Saint-Germain confirmed the winger tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Tuesday’s Champions League win over Barcelona. PSG announced the injury on Wednesday morning, stating that Kvaratskhelia will undergo surgery in the coming days.

The 23-year-old appeared to twist his knee just before the hour mark at the Parc des Princes and was helped from the pitch by medical staff. PSG went on to win 4-2, with goals from Desire Doue, Lucas Hernandez, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz keeping them top of the Champions League league phase with three wins from three games.

The injury compounds a difficult evening for Luis Enrique’s squad. Striker Ousmane Dembélé was forced off in the first half, and captain Marquinhos also left the pitch before the final whistle. The club confirmed both players suffered thigh injuries and will receive treatment over the coming weeks.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, PSG head coach Luis Enrique acknowledged the scale of the setbacks. “I am not the doctor. I am the coach,” he said. “The three injuries is the worst part of the game today. We will have to wait for the tests tomorrow. They are three very important players, so it’s really bad news, of course, but that’s football.”

Kvaratskhelia has been central to PSG’s back-to-back Champions League triumphs. The Georgia international won the penalty that led to PSG’s equaliser against Arsenal in last year’s final in Budapest, and scored in the 5-0 victory over Inter Milan that sealed the club’s first European title in 2025. This season he had contributed two goals and one assist across 11 appearances in all competitions before sustaining the injury.

PSG’s next Champions League fixture is a trip to Villarreal on Tuesday, 3 November.