Kvaratskhelia injury: PSG winger tears right ACL against Barcelona, out for months

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee and faces months out, Paris Saint-Germain confirmed on Wednesday. The Georgia winger will have surgery in the coming days, the club said, according to AFP.

The injury came in Tuesday night's 4-2 Champions League win over Barcelona at the Parc des Princes. Kvaratskhelia went down without any apparent contact and left the pitch just before the hour mark.

How long is Kvaratskhelia out?

PSG did not give a timeline. An ACL rupture that needs surgery usually keeps a footballer out for many months, and the club's own wording, surgery "in the coming days", means his recovery has not yet begun. AFP reported he is "set for months out".

A bad week for PSG

The club also said Ousmane Dembele and Marquinhos will miss "several weeks" with thigh injuries. That leaves PSG without three of the players who led PSG to back-to-back Champions League titles, just as the league phase and the French season reach a busy stretch.

Kvaratskhelia, 25, has been central to that run since joining from Napoli. He is also on the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or, which will be presented on Monday 26 October. A long injury does not change the vote, which covers last season, but it takes one of Europe's most watched forwards off the pitch for much of this one.

He had only just returned to form: he scored twice in two minutes off the bench against Le Mans earlier this month, as we reported at the time.

What it means for PSG's next games

PSG won Tuesday's game, but they now need to find width and goals elsewhere. For the scores from Tuesday night, see our Champions League round-up, and for tonight's fixtures in Pakistan time, including Bayern vs Arsenal at midnight, see Wednesday's schedule.