Paris Saint-Germain's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Season In Doubt After Torn ACL

PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia season in doubt after torn ACL© AFP

Paris Saint-Germain could be without Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the rest of the season after the winger tore his ACL in the Champions League win against Barcelona, while Ousmane Dembele also faces a spell on the sidelines, the club said on Wednesday. Both players suffered injuries in the reigning European champions' 4-2 league-phase win over Barcelona at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday. "Having suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during yesterday's match against FC Barcelona, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is set to undergo surgery in the coming days," PSG said in a statement, without giving a timeline for his recovery.

Recovery from ACL surgery typically takes between six and nine months, meaning the 25-year-old Georgia international can, at best, hope to return for the closing stages of the season.

The former Napoli winger has established himself as one of Europe's most exciting attacking players and played a leading role in helping PSG win back-to-back Champions League titles over the last two seasons.

Like Dembele, he is among the contenders for the Ballon d'Or, which will be awarded on Monday.

The club said Dembele, the current Ballon d'Or holder, and influential Brazilian central defender Marquinhos will both be sidelined for "several weeks" with thigh injuries suffered in the win against Barcelona.

Kvaratskhelia slumped to the turf without any apparent contact and left the pitch just before the hour mark on Tuesday.

Dembele, 29, was substituted after just 20 minutes because of his injury.

In the absence of two of their attacking stars, PSG will need to rely on summer signings Maghnes Akliouche, Mika Godts and Ferran Torres, the Spain international who scored the winning goal in the World Cup final in July.

PSG are away to Ligue 1 leaders Lyon on Sunday in their next domestic match before travelling to Spanish side Villarreal for their next Champions League fixture on November 3.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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