Paris Saint-Germain left their 4-2 Champions League win over Barcelona with the points, but also with a far more troubling cost. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, leaving Luis Enrique to reshape his attacking options for the months ahead.
The move
Kvaratskhelia was forced off on Tuesday after what appeared to be an ordinary challenge against Barcelona. PSG confirmed that the Georgian winger has torn the ACL in his right knee and will undergo surgery, a process that will keep him out for several months.
The setback comes at a difficult moment for the 2025-26 Champions League’s leading player, who had been looking to rediscover his best rhythm after an unconvincing beginning to the campaign. His prolonged absence creates a major opening for Maghnes Akliouche, the 24-year-old French attacking midfielder signed from Monaco during the summer transfer window.
Akliouche initially needed time to settle in Paris, but goals against Le Mans and Manchester City have helped him establish himself. He has featured in each of PSG’s 12 matches this season, starting eight of them, while his ability to play as a winger, central attacker or midfielder gives Luis Enrique several ways to use him.
The PSG coach has already made clear how highly he rates the Frenchman, praising Akliouche’s output across different positions as well as his technical and physical qualities. With Kvaratskhelia sidelined, the former Monaco player is now in line for a much larger role through the autumn and winter.
The French season around it
PSG’s problems are not confined to Kvaratskhelia. Ousmane Dembélé is also expected to miss several weeks with a left-thigh muscle injury, adding further pressure on a squad that has been hit hard after the Barcelona match. There are concerns that another physical setback could disrupt Dembélé’s season, as injuries did around the same period last year.
Mika Godts, another summer attacking arrival, may be among the principal beneficiaries. The Belgian came from Ajax after a standout Dutch campaign in which he registered 17 goals and 15 assists. A direct dribbler with pace and comfort in one-on-one situations, Godts has qualities close to those Kvaratskhelia brings from the left.
His transition has nevertheless been slow. After being an automatic starter in Amsterdam, Godts has made only one start for PSG and played 489 minutes. The simultaneous absences of Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé could give him the sustained run he has not yet found in France.
- Maghnes Akliouche: PSG’s flexible summer signing, with eight starts in 12 appearances this season.
- Mika Godts: the former Ajax forward, still seeking a regular place after arriving in Paris.
- Senny Mayulu: a versatile academy graduate returning after physical issues and lengthy contract-extension talks.
- Quentin Ndjantou: the 19-year-old who could return to first-team consideration after recovering fitness.
Mayulu has made only four brief appearances this season, including his substitute outing against Barcelona, but can cover central midfield, the middle of the attack and wide areas. His capacity to repeat intense efforts and fill several roles could become valuable during PSG’s congested run.
Ndjantou is another potential answer. The 19-year-old emerged during autumn 2025 when first-team absences mounted, before physical troubles complicated the end of last season. He is now fit again but has remained unused in six senior matchday squads. With established players needing rest and the injury list growing, he could be brought back into Ligue 1 or Champions League action.
Luis Enrique could also turn to further academy players who have impressed in the Youth League. A Ligue 1 joker signing is technically possible during the first half of the season, but any recruit would have to come from another French club, making an unexpected move difficult. PSG may revisit the market in January, although there is no certainty that the club intends to recruit then.
The immediate test arrives on Sunday, when PSG face Lyon in the eighth round of Ligue 1. Kvaratskhelia’s injury has removed one of Paris’s most distinctive attackers; for Akliouche, Godts and the club’s younger options, the door is suddenly open.
