Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sustained a right knee injury during the Champions League league phase matchday three fixture against Barcelona. According to preliminary assessments by Spanish physiotherapist Ángel Villanueva, the Georgian footballer could be sidelined for six to nine months. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the specialist's post on the social media platform X.
The 57th-minute incident: collision with Espart
The traumatic incident occurred in the 57th minute of the match. During a challenge with Barcelona defender Xavi Espart, Kvaratskhelia landed awkwardly on the turf and injured his right knee. The Georgian winger was unable to leave the pitch on his own and was assisted by the Parisian club's medical staff. PSG head coach Luis Enrique was forced to make a substitution, replacing Kvaratskhelia with Maghnes Akliouche. Ultimately, PSG secured a confident victory over Barcelona.
Preliminary diagnosis: combined ligament damage
Spanish physiotherapist Ángel Villanueva analyzed video footage of the incident and suggested that Kvaratskhelia may have damaged both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament of his right knee. "During the collision, you can clearly see the forced inward movement of the right knee with a fixed foot. This mechanism is characteristic of a combined injury to the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament. Recovery time — nine months," the specialist wrote on X. It is important to emphasize that this is merely a preliminary assessment based on video recording and not an official medical diagnosis. Information regarding the exact nature of the injury and confirmed recovery timelines for Kvaratskhelia was unavailable at the time of publication.
Season statistics and potential consequences
In the current season, the Georgian winger has managed 11 appearances for PSG across all competitions, scoring two goals and providing one assist. If the prediction of a nine-month recovery is confirmed, the player risks missing a significant portion, if not the entirety, of the remainder of the season. For PSG, this would be a severe blow to their attacking options, especially amid a congested fixture list in both the Champions League and Ligue 1.
What's next: awaiting official medical conclusion
At present, the club has not published an official medical bulletin. Kvaratskhelia is expected to undergo further examinations to precisely determine the extent of the damage and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment or surgery. Until MRI results and the official medical report from PSG are released, any timelines regarding his recovery remain purely preliminary.
