PSG dealt brutal blow ahead of Barcelona showdown as captain Marquinhos joins Ousmane Dembele, Joao Neves and Desire Doue on injury list

PSG confirmed on Friday that Marquinhos will miss the Ligue 1 match against Auxerre and the Champions League trip to Barcelona due to a left quadriceps injury. The Brazilian who played full 90 minutes in the 1-0 loss to Marseille, joins a growing list of injured players, including Joao Neves, Desire Doue, and Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele. While Bradley Barcola returned to training and is expected to feature against Auxerre, the absence of Marquinhos leaves a major gap in the heart of PSG’s defence.

The Ligue 1 giants released a statement on their website: "Friday, September 26th's medical update concerns Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, and Marquinhos. Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele are continuing their rehabilitation process. Suffering from a left quadriceps issue, Marquinhos will remain in treatment for the coming weeks."

Marquinhos’ injury disrupts Luis Enrique’s plans ahead of one of PSG’s toughest tests this season. The 31-year-old has been a key figure in central defence, providing leadership and stability alongside partners such as Vitinha in midfield. His absence means young Ukrainian Illia Zabarnyi will likely step up, while Fabian Ruiz and Warren Zaire-Emery may be relied upon to maintain balance in midfield. For Les Parisiens, the challenge will be to defend cohesively without their captain against a Barcelona side looking to exploit any defensive frailties.

Barcola’s return offers a boost in attack, giving Enrique options down the wing. Meanwhile, Ruiz completed individual running sessions rather than full training, and Zaire-Emery remains a key candidate to hold midfield stability during Marquinhos’ absence.

PSG will host Auxerre this weekend with a makeshift defensive line and then travel to Estadio Olimpico Lluis Companys for the Champions League clash against Barca. Enrique must reorganise the backline and midfield to cover Marquinhos’ absence, while the team hopes their younger options can step up. The key will be maintaining defensive solidity while preserving attacking threats in Europe’s biggest stage.