Barcelona vs. PSG: 7-Star Injury Crisis Could Decide Champions League Fate
- PSG are rocked by injury crisis with captain Marquinhos and six other key players likely to miss the Barcelona Champions League showdown
- Luis Enrique faces midfield and attacking headaches as doubts hang over lots of his key players before the reunion against his former side
- 2025 France Football Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele is also set to miss the crucial UCL clash
Marquinhos, the captain of Paris Saint-Germain and six other key players for Luis Enrique's side, will likely not be available for their UEFA Champions League match against Barcelona at Montjuïc on Wednesday, October 1.
The Brazilian has suffered a quadriceps injury in his left leg, as confirmed by the Parisian club in a medical update issued two days ago ahead of their Ligue 1 match against Auxerre.
Source: Getty Images
Marquinho's major injury concern
The defender played through the pain in the "Classique" match in Marseille on Monday, September 22, and tests revealed a muscle injury that will require treatment "over the coming weeks," as PSG announced, as noted by AS.
This will be a significant absence for Luis Enrique, as Marquinhos is his captain and one of the most experienced players in the squad, helping the French side to a historic Champions League triumph last season.
PSG to miss 7 players ahead of Barcelona clash
Apart from the absence of Marquinhos, the reigning European champions are also set to be without six other major players, including 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, as cited by Actu Ligue 1 on X.
The 28-year-old's return is expected after the international break in October of this year, while Desire Doué will almost certainly be unavailable for Wednesday's crucial match against Barcelona.
As for Doue, he hasn't returned to training yet, and Luis Enrique won't take any risks with the player in the game scheduled to kick off at 19:00 GMT, per Flashscore fixtures.
In addition, midfielder Joao Neves is yet to fully recover from his setback and remains doubtful, while Vitinha is also carrying a knock that could limit his involvement.
Creative engine Fabián Ruiz has been struggling with fitness issues and is not guaranteed to feature either. On top of that, ex-Napoli man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is still nursing an injury concern, making his availability highly uncertain.
Source: Getty Images
This cluster of potential absentees could significantly affect Luis Enrique’s options in midfield and attack, forcing PSG to tweak their tactical approach and rely on squad depth against Barcelona’s possession-oriented style.
Meanwhile, the Spanish boss played down concerns over PSG’s injury list, stressing that such setbacks are simply part of football at the highest level.
He also explained that the situation is not unusual compared to last season, noting that while the club is doing everything possible to anticipate problems, no coach can predict injuries before they happen.
Marquinhos's injury before Barcelona-PSG match
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that PSG captain Marquinhos will miss the Barcelona clash due to a quadriceps injury, a huge blow for Luis Enrique’s defensive setup.
The dependable Brazilian defender is now sidelined for “several weeks,” leaving PSG without one of their most experienced players ahead of their first biggest Champions League test of the season.
Source: YEN.com.gh
