Ousmane Dembele Injury: PSG Star Subbed Off After 20 Minutes Against Barcelona

The Ousmane Dembele injury scare is the one cloud hanging over Paris Saint-Germain's famous 4-2 win over Barcelona. The PSG star lasted only 20 minutes of the Champions League clash at the Parc des Princes before a hamstring problem forced him off.

It was a cruel sight for the home fans. Ferran Torres came on in his place, and while PSG went on to win a six-goal thriller, all eyes are now on the medical room rather than the match report.

Ousmane Dembele Injury: What Happened in Paris

Dembélé's night ended almost before it had begun. The forward went down with a hamstring injury in the opening stages and could not continue, making way after just 20 minutes of the matchday 3 encounter.

No official update on the severity of the problem has been issued yet. Until scans and assessments are complete, nobody — not PSG, not the player, and certainly not the fans — can know how long he might be out.

Part of a Brutal Night for Both Squads

Dembélé was not the only casualty. It was an evening when both teams lost key men, and the PSG injury news made grim reading by full time.

• Ousmane Dembélé — off after 20 minutes (hamstring injury)
• Dani Olmo (Barcelona) — off injured at 26 minutes
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — off injured at 58 minutes
• Marquinhos — forced off at 59 minutes

PSG were also missing left-back Nuno Mendes before a ball was kicked, after he was ruled out of the Barcelona match in advance. To win 4-2 in those circumstances says plenty about the squad's character.

A Race Against Time for the Ballon d'Or

The timing could hardly be worse. The Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place on 26 October in London, and Dembélé is among the leading contenders to lift football's most famous individual prize.

The next few days will be a race against time. With the severity of the hamstring injury not yet known, there is no return date to cling to — only hope that the early exit was precautionary rather than serious. Our breakdown of the Ballon d'Or race shows just how tight the battle at the top is this year.

For now, PSG supporters face an anxious wait. Their team produced one of its great European nights against Barcelona, but the lasting image may be their star man heading for the tunnel with a season-defining month ahead of him.

PSG Must Cope Without Their Star

However long any absence lasts, PSG have at least shown they can win without him. After Dembélé's exit, the goals were shared around — Doué opened the scoring, and Hernández, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz all found the net in the 4-2 victory over previously unbeaten Barcelona.

That depth will be tested if the hamstring injury proves serious. For a player in Ballon d'Or contention, even a short layoff at this stage of the season is a significant setback, and the club will take no chances with him until the full picture is clear.

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