PSG injury crisis continues as Kvaratskhelia becomes latest big name to suffer a blow

Last night's game between PSG and Lens, which eventually resulted in a fairly routine 2-0 victory for the champions, saw three seperate additions to the Parisian's injury list, with Kvicha Kvaratskhelia suffering a knock to his shin, and both Lee Kang In and Lucas Beraldo having to come off after injuries to their ankles. This is in addition to pre-existing injuries to Desiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé, both of whom will be out for a number of weeks.

This leaves PSG's squad looking dangerously thin ahead of Wednesday's Champions League fixture against Atalanta Bergamo, specifically in attack, with Bradley Barcola (who scored two excellent goals against Lens) and Gonçalo Ramos the only fit senior first team forwards ready at the club. This means a probable start for young Ibrahim Mbaye, who has featured in all four of PSG's league games so far this season, but has yet to score his first of the campaign, or for Senny Mayulu, whose last appearance in the Champions League saw him become the third youngest player to ever score in the Champions League final. Either way, Luis Enrique will be concerned at how thin his squad suddenly looks ahead of what will be a congested month of fixtures.

One reassuring factor will be Barcola's performance yesterday. The Frenchman scored both of the goals, with two fine strikes from outside the box, the first curled smoothly into the far corner and the second rifled low and hard under Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser. It was an outstanding individual performance that Enrique and all those at the club will hope signifies a continuation of the upturn in form for the young French winger, who has made a good start to the season for both club and country.

The pressure will be on Barcola and on Gonçalo Ramos on Wednesday, as should PSG play their usual 4-3-3 formation, they are the only fit senior attackers currently left at the club, and therefore will have to bring their A-game to the table in order to defeat a confident Atalanta side who are coming into the game straight off the back of an emphatic 4-1 win against Lecce. Ramos will hope to score his first goal of what has been a difficult start to the season personally in Wednesday's game.

Another consolation for the French Champions was Warren Zaire Emery's fine return to the team. The young midfielder, standing in for the rested Joao Neves, completed the game with 92% passing accuracy and a 100% dribble success rate, and his dominant midfield display represents the best type of problem for Luis Enrique, who will have the option to either start him or bring him off the bench in Wednesday's game.

Looking further forwards, things don't get much easier for the Parisians, with tough away games in the league at Marseille and Lille coming up in the next month, bookending a difficult trip to the Camp Nou in the Champions League. Enrique will hope to have at least some of his star attackers back fit for these games, although only Desiré Doué's recovery is expected to be complete in the right timeframe to be able to compete vs Barcelona.