Paris Saint-Germain faces a dilemma over Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ahead of the UEFA Champions League clash against FC Barcelona, following recent performances that included a low rating against Strasbourg. Foot Mercato reported that French media outlets heavily criticized the Georgian winger, with L’Équipe labeling him “a ghost” and Le Parisien describing his output as “insignificant” after a costly turnover directly led to an opposition goal on Saturday afternoon.
Luis Enrique’s Tactical Response and Benchings
The forward’s early-season struggles have prompted manager Luis Enrique to utilize disciplinary measures, omitting Kvaratskhelia from the starting lineup in Paris Saint-Germain’s opening two Champions League fixtures. The Georgian international remained on the bench for the entirety of the victory against Slovan Bratislava and delivered an unconvincing cameo appearance after coming on as a substitute against Manchester City.
These selection choices highlight a growing competition on the left wing, where summer arrival Désiré Doué has seized his opportunities. While Doué also sat on the bench against Bratislava, the young Frenchman has provided a much stronger on-field response to his manager’s demands over subsequent weeks.
Vitinha’s Defense of His Teammate
Addressing the media on Monday ahead of the European fixture, midfielder Vitinha stepped forward to defend his teammate’s difficult spell. You can’t find an explanation, we all have ups and downs, we try to be constant the most possible, it’s never for the whole season, we have ups and downs that arrive in a career,
the Portuguese international stated during the pre-match press conference. We hope that he and the others will be at their best tomorrow.
Dilemma Before the Barcelona Showdown
Heading into Tuesday night’s high-stakes encounter at the Parc des Princes, opinions within the club remain divided regarding Kvaratskhelia’s role. One faction advocates for restoring the presumptive starting front three of Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, and Désiré Doué, pointing out that the absence of left-back Nuno Mendes makes Kvaratskhelia’s defensive work rate essential for containing Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal. Conversely, another camp argues for maintaining sporting sanctions by rewarding Doué with another start on the left flank.
Historical precedent offers some solace to the Parisian coaching staff. During the previous campaign, Kvaratskhelia experienced a similarly quiet opening phase, failing to score in Ligue 1 until the 12th matchday in November. In Europe last season, he netted in the opening fixture against Atalanta, missed the trip to Barcelona due to injury, and starred in the third match against Bayer Leverkusen. However, the club’s current offensive depth presents stiffer competition, with players like Ferran Torres and Akliouche also pushing for inclusion in the starting XI.
Match Schedule and Competition Context
Paris Saint-Germain hosts FC Barcelona on Tuesday night in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, with kickoff scheduled for 9:00 PM local time (CEST) / 7:00 PM UTC at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France. Luis Enrique’s side enters the fixture seeking stability in their continental campaign while managing mounting pressure across domestic and European competitions.
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