Khvicha Kvaratskhelia faces surgery for ACL tear as PSG suffer three injuries

An operation awaits Khvicha Kvaratskhelia following confirmation that the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee has torn. The winger’s injury, sustained as Paris Saint-Germain defeated Barcelona in the Champions League, is the most severe of three suffered by the French club.

Kvaratskhelia hurt during PSG’s victory against Barcelona

Tuesday’s encounter ended 4-2 in PSG’s favour, but Kvaratskhelia twisted his knee and needed assistance to leave the field shortly before 60 minutes had elapsed. The Georgian could not support his weight on the affected right leg.

Having raced back to challenge Xavi Espart, the winger came down awkwardly, grabbed his right knee and appeared to be in considerable discomfort. A key contributor to PSG’s two successive Champions League triumphs, he is also among the candidates for the Ballon d’Or, whose winner will be announced on Monday.

Dembélé and Marquinhos also require treatment

A thigh problem had already ended Ousmane Dembélé’s involvement earlier in the match, while Marquinhos, the defender, was also withdrawn because of a comparable complaint. According to PSG, the pair will receive treatment over the coming weeks.

Under Luis Enrique, Dembélé featured selectively in domestic league fixtures last term, and the coach has already given him two rests in Ligue 1 this season. The French attacker registered six World Cup goals, but injury disrupted his previous campaign; earlier, during his Barcelona career, repeated muscular problems in his legs had also troubled him.

The 2024-25 campaign marked a personal milestone for Dembélé: never before had he reached 50 appearances within one season. His displays that year brought him the men’s Ballon d’Or.

Barcelona take banner complaint to Uefa

Separately, Barcelona have complained to Uefa about a display shown on Tuesday that invoked a chainsaw massacre. Beneath the wording “Massacre, Parisien style”, the banner portrayed a masked figure wearing a PSG jersey using a chainsaw to slice through Barcelona’s badge. Pyrotechnic effects simulated sparks at the point where the blade struck the crest.

People close to the Catalan club said Uefa’s match delegate had been informed about both the imagery on the banner and offensive chanting heard from sections of the crowd.