Paris Saint-Germain faces the imminent Champions League duel against Fútbol Club Barcelona with concern. A few days before the clash at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, two of its starters, Vitinha and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, raised alarms after withdrawing with discomfort in the match against Auxerre.

The match against Barça, scheduled for Wednesday, October 1 at 9:00 p.m., threatens to see a PSG decimated by a new injury plague, just when it must face a Barcelona that seeks to strengthen its position in the top continental competition.

Vitinha and Kvaratskhelia, the latest to join the infirmary

In the 35th minute of the league match against Auxerre, Vitinha asked for the change suffering from muscle discomfort. The Portuguese midfielder is a key piece in Luis Enrique's scheme, and his absence would be a hard blow in the Parisian midfield.

For his part, Kvaratskhelia also left injured at halftime. The Georgian winger suffered a hard tackle that forced him to leave the field limping, with signs of pain in his left thigh. His evolution will determine if he can travel to Barcelona.

A PSG plagued with casualties

The problems don't end there. Captain Marquinhos continues to be ruled out due to injury, while Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Joao Neves continue with their recovery processes, as announced by the French club itself. None of them have their presence assured in the final list to travel to the Condal City.

If the absences are confirmed, PSG would lose solidity in defense and offensive creativity, factors that can be decisive against a Barça that arrives with confidence after its good performance in LaLiga, although also with many casualties.

A calendar that takes its toll

The case of PSG is a reflection of the frenetic calendar that the great European teams face. Between the domestic league, the Champions League and the international dates, injuries have become a recurring factor that conditions the aspirations of the clubs in all competitions.

Barça also knows firsthand what the accumulation of matches means. In recent weeks, Hansi Flick's team has had to deal with the casualties of key players such as Ter Stegen, Lamine, Balde, Gavi, Fermín, Joan García or Raphinha, which has forced the coach to reinvent his starting eleven in several LaLiga matches.

The next few days will be decisive to know if Vitinha and Kvaratskhelia can arrive in time for the clash. Meanwhile, Barça is closely following the evolution of its rivals, aware that the casualties in PSG could tip the balance in its favor.