Luis Enrique’s Injury Storm Deepens as PSG Edges Barca: A Tight Rope in Europe

Injury Storm Hits PSG Ahead of Lille Clash

Spanish manager Luis Enrique continues to wrestle with a growing casualty list at Paris Saint-Germain, even after a vital 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League. The victory in Europe comes on the heels of a 4-0 demolition of Atalanta in the opening group game, a result that pushed PSG to six points from two matches.

The Paris giants, European champions, sit atop Ligue 1 with 15 points before round seven, keeping pace with a charging Lyon side, as they navigate a season peppered with injuries and high expectations.

Barcelona, meanwhile, picked up three points with a 2-1 win over Newcastle United in England and now head into a tough third group game against Olympiakos in Greece. The Catalans’ campaign, much like PSG’s, has been a mixed bag of results and injuries, tradeoffs, and stubborn optimism.

Looking ahead, PSG are set to host Bayer Leverkusen at the Parc des Princes later in October, keeping alive a demanding European schedule even as domestic battles loom large.

But before the international break, the Parisians will head to Lille on Sunday for the seventh round of Ligue 1, a trip that promises grit and a test of depth for a squad bleeding players.

The club revealed a list of six sidelined stars, extending an injury crisis that has already sidelined several key players for this crucial stretch.

Ousmane Dembélé, the world-class forward who was recently crowned this year’s Ballon d’Or winner, continues his rehabilitation at the Aspetar clinic in Doha, Qatar.

Spanish midfielder Fabián Ruiz, who has been among the early contenders in the Ballon d’Or race, is also out with a muscular issue and undergoing a treatment and rehab plan.

The Georgian winger Khvicha Kvartan...skheil ia (Khvicha Kvartatskhelia) is in the same boat, working through a tendon-related rehab.

Meanwhile, it’s noted that Ruiz did feature in the Barcelona match, while Joao Neves was withdrawn from the starting XI in the final moments after warming up complaints.

What are PSG’s results in Ligue 1 this season (2025-2026)?

PSG sit atop Ligue 1 with 15 points, level with Olympique Lyonnais before round seven, having posted five wins and a single defeat—Marseille edging them 1-0 in the Classique—postponed a day due to weather.

In the league, PSG beat Nantes and Angers 1-0 in the first two rounds, then stunned Toulouse 6-3, beat Lens 2-0, and most recently saw off Auxerre 2-0 in the last outing.

Next up for the Parisians is Lille, a clash that will mark the 104th meeting between the two clubs in domestic competition. Historically, PSG hold a record of 45 wins to Lille’s 32, with 26 draws; PSG have scored 152 goals to Lille’s 111 in those clashes, per Transfermarkt.

Beyond Lille, PSG will also host Strasbourg at home and then travel to Brest and Lorient in late October.

How many titles has Paris Saint-Germain won in their history?

Founded in 1970, PSG has grown into France’s dominant force in recent years, especially after Qatari ownership in 2011. Thanks to heavy investment, PSG has collected 13 Ligue 1 titles, 16 French Cups, 9 League Cups, and 13 French Super Cups.

The club also holds four European or global honours: the Cup Winners’ Cup (1996) and the Intertoto Cup (2001), plus their crowning achievement of the 2025 UEFA Champions League, followed by the 2025 UEFA Super Cup—the first in their history.

PSG have also finished as runners-up in the 2020 Champions League and in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Punchlines

Punchline 1: If injuries were players, PSG would already have a full squad—and the medical staff would be the most-utilized transfer window in town.

Punchline 2: This season’s lineup reads more like a medical chart than a football lineup—PSG’s bench list could star in its own wellness program.