Paris Saint-Germain head into their first major Champions League test of the season against Barcelona with a growing injury crisis threatening to derail momentum. Coach Luis Enrique, preparing to face his former club, will have to navigate the fixture without several key stars.
The biggest blow is the absence of Ousmane Dembele, fresh off winning the Ballon d’Or for his stellar 2024/25 season, where he netted 35 goals. Dembele, who left Barcelona in 2023, was widely expected to be the headline act of the clash, facing off against teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. Instead, the 28-year-old continues to recover from a thigh injury sustained during international duty with France and will remain sidelined for at least two more weeks.
“It is going well. I will be back very soon,” Dembele told French television as he celebrated with PSG fans after Saturday’s 2-0 win against Auxerre.
Who else is missing for PSG?
Dembele is not the only casualty. Desire Doue, runner-up to Yamal in the Kopa Trophy rankings, has been out with a calf injury since international duty earlier this month. Captain Marquinhos and midfielder Joao Neves are also sidelined, while Vitinha, third in the Ballon d’Or, limped off before halftime at the weekend. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was withdrawn at the break, leaving PSG sweating over his fitness too.
Luis Enrique admitted the situation is challenging: “We have to stay positive because we need to be able to manage this situation. Paris Saint-Germain are not the only team with injuries. It is the case for every team with such an intense calendar.”
The numbers paint a worrying picture. PSG played 65 matches in 2024/25, including a grueling run to the Club World Cup final in July. Players like Dembele, Vitinha, and Achraf Hakimi have logged more than 100 games each for club and country in just over two years. FIFPro’s Alex Phillips recently warned, “We think club owners are beginning to realise that this is bad for business.”
Despite the setbacks, PSG arrive in Catalonia boosted by a 4-0 win over Atalanta in their European opener. Even if a defeat against Barcelona does not immediately threaten their Champions League progress, the mounting injuries raise deeper concerns about sustainability in a packed football calendar.
By Yockshard Enyendi