Kvaratskhelia Faces Barcelona Test Amid PSG Selection Pressure

Paris Saint-Germain's attacking plans for their Champions League meeting with Barcelona on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, face an important selection decision as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struggles to reproduce last season's form. The Georgian winger has lost his regular starting position, leaving coach Luis Enrique to decide whether to restore him for the European fixture or continue with alternatives in attack.

Kvaratskhelia played a major role in PSG's Champions League triumph last season, but inconsistent performances during the 2026-27 campaign have raised questions about his confidence, effectiveness in one-on-one situations and contribution to the team's attacking play.

According to reports from Goal.com and Gazeta Express, the winger remained on the bench throughout PSG's opening Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava and made only a brief appearance against Manchester City. His domestic performance against Strasbourg added to the scrutiny after losing possession in the sequence leading to a goal conceded by PSG.

Competition for his position has intensified, particularly with Désiré Doué emerging as another option on the left wing. Doué made an impression after entering the match against Slovan Bratislava, strengthening his case for further opportunities under Enrique.

Former Lyon and Saint-Étienne player François Clerc questioned the winger's recent performances during an appearance on RMC's L'After Foot program.

"If Kvara starts the match, he will play a big game. In terms of behaviour, we feel he is playing with a (muddled) head, and that he is not present. We feel a kind of unease.

He has produced good matches in the French league, but now he is disappointing anyway." Clerc said.

Journalist Daniel Riolo also raised concerns about the difference between Kvaratskhelia's domestic performances and his displays in European competition. He suggested that consistently strong Champions League performances alongside weaker league outings could become an unacceptable pattern for the club.

"If he plays (against Barcelona) and as usual (in the Champions League) he is good, then I think the message after a while will be: stop doing that." Riolo said.

Riolo argued that the winger's fluctuating performances could create a problem for PSG if the disparity between the two competitions continued.

"We agree that there is a theory of players choosing their matches, and we let it pass quietly because we realised that nobody at Paris Saint-Germain cared about the French league. But this would be a very big thing, in fact too much. In the French league, he really is average.

If he is good tomorrow and I were the coach, I would not accept that." Riolo said.

Journalist and technical analyst Walid Acherchour questioned why the Georgian had struggled despite having time to prepare for the season after missing the World Cup.

"This year, he did not take part in the World Cup, and he had an ideal preparation, so how do we explain that Kvara, who may be among the top five candidates for the Ballon d'Or, is no longer able, against Strasbourg, to attempt a dribble in a one-on-one situation?" Acherchour said.

Journalist and technical analyst Florent Gautreau suggested that attention surrounding the Ballon d'Or race might have contributed to the winger's frustration. He also expected Kvaratskhelia to recover his form and eventually regain a regular starting role.

"There is something we underestimated in all our discussions about the Ballon d'Or: when he arrived at the start of the season, he perhaps saw himself as a candidate, but in the big machine of everyone's nomination campaigns (Mbappé, Yamal and Dembélé), he saw that they were no longer talking about him." Gautreau said.

Gautreau linked that possible disappointment to the contrast between Kvaratskhelia's expectations and his current performances.

"This is perhaps why his level dropped (because of frustration) while he had been expecting a tremendous start to the season after missing out on the World Cup." Gautreau said.

PSG midfielder Vitinha offered a more measured assessment, emphasizing that fluctuations in performance are common throughout a football season.

"You cannot find an explanation for everything. We all go through ups and downs, and we try to keep our level as consistent as possible. No player maintains the same level throughout the season; instead, everyone goes through varying periods during their footballing career.

We hope that Kvaratskhelia and the rest of the players will be at their best tomorrow." Vitinha said.

Enrique's decision also carries tactical implications because Nuno Mendes is unavailable, according to the reports. Kvaratskhelia's defensive contribution could help PSG support the left side against Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, while selecting Doué would prioritize the alternative's stronger recent form.

The debate extends beyond one match. Reports noted that Kvaratskhelia also experienced a slow start last season, scoring his first Ligue 1 goal in the 12th round in November. He subsequently delivered influential European performances, including a standout display against Bayer Leverkusen, before injury ruled him out of a Barcelona fixture.