PSG injuries can't overshadow signature UCL win over Barça - ESPN

PARIS — Ousmane Dembélé's injury problems resurfaced during Paris Saint-Germain's 4-2 Champions League win over Barcelona when the reigning Ballon d'Or winner limped off after just 20 minutes of the Champions League tie.

Minutes later, Barcelona were forced to substitute Dani Olmo after the Spain attacker picked up an apparent injury of his own. Fermín López came on in the 27th minute as Olmo left the field in obvious discomfort.

The injury issues for PSG continued in the second half when another star player, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, was helped from the field by two members of the medical team after a collision with Barcelona's Xavi Espart saw him fly through the air and land hard. Kvaratskhelia appeared to hurt his right foot in the encounter and was unable to walk as he left the field.

PSG midfielder Marquinhos was also injured during the same sequence and came off at the same time as Kvaratskhelia, who was replaced by Maghnes Akliouche. The Brazil international left the field under his own power.

The injuries did not keep the world's top two sides from putting on the kind of show that was expected going into this clash of European heavyweights. PSG twice pulled ahead only for Barcelona to level on both occasions, before Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz scored in the game's final 10 minutes to put it away for the hosts.

The loss was Barcelona's first of the season in all competitions and after the game, manager Hansi Flick said the injured Olmo was very disappointed to have left the match. «We don't yet how big the injury is, we have to wait and see,» Flick added.

Dembélé, 29, endured an injury-ravaged six-year spell at Barcelona before moving to PSG in 2023, and the France forward has largely overcome his fitness problems at