PSG Beat Barcelona 4-2 as Dembélé and Olmo Limp Off With Injuries
Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-2 at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, October 20, in the Champions League. The win came at a heavy cost. PSG forward Ousmane Dembélé and Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo both left the pitch injured in the first half, and the club doctors have not yet said how serious those injuries are. PSG also lost Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos to injury during the match.
Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, pulled up in the 19th minute. He held the back of his left thigh after a sprint, with no contact from an opponent. He walked off and was replaced by Ferran Torres. PSG coach Luis Enrique has limited Dembélé's minutes this season to protect him from injury.
Olmo went down in a midfield challenge with Vitinha and had to come off in the 26th minute. Fermín López replaced him. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said the team did not yet know how serious Olmo's injury is. The news matters for Barcelona, who face Real Madrid in El Clásico on Sunday.
The injury that looked the worst came in the second half. Kvaratskhelia twisted his knee after a fair challenge from Barcelona's Xavi Espart and landed awkwardly, and he was helped off, unable to walk. Marquinhos also came off injured. Reports on Wednesday said PSG had confirmed that Kvaratskhelia has torn his cruciate ligament and will be out for months. Fabián Ruiz said the way Kvaratskhelia fell scared him.
The game itself was a classic. Désiré Doué put PSG ahead with a 20-yard finish in the 38th minute, after a mistake by Lamine Yamal. Espart, on his full Champions League debut, equalised in the 55th minute. Lucas Hernández headed PSG back in front with 18 minutes left. Yamal then scored a fine solo goal to make it 2-2. Only moments later, Vitinha restored PSG's lead with a stunning half-volley from outside the area in the 81st minute, and Fabián Ruiz sealed the win from close range in the 86th minute.
It was Barcelona's first defeat of the season in all competitions. The two teams had 40 attempts at goal between them. PSG now have three wins from three in the league phase, and stay top of the table on goal difference as they aim to win the competition for a third season in a row.