PSG Suffer Major Setback Before Facing Atalanta, Barcelona in Champions League

The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League group stage is set, and PSG face a daunting challenge in one of the toughest groups. After a slow start last season, the French champions will be eager to hit the ground running this time around.

PSG will clash with Bayern Munich and Barcelona in what promise to be two high-profile showdowns. Tottenham Hotspur also join the group, setting up a quick rematch of their heated Super Cup encounter from just a few weeks ago.

The competition doesn’t get any easier from there. Newcastle United and Athletic Bilbao are also in the mix, while Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta, and Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon stand between PSG and a spot in the knockout stage.

PSG to lose Ousmane Dembélé for a significant time

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RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins reports that Ousmane Dembélé will miss Paris Saint-Germain’s first Champions League match against Atalanta, as well as the Ligue 1 clash with Olympique de Marseille.

During this international break, Telefoot’s Saber Desfarges reported that Dembélé is expected to leave the France national team camp after sustaining a right hamstring injury.

His absence is expected to last around six weeks. Additionally, Désiré Doué is already ruled out for the Atalanta game.

🚨🔴🔵 Gros coup dur pour le PSG. Ousmane Dembélé va manquer le 1er match de Ligue des champions contre l’Atalanta et le choc face l’OM en Ligue 1.

❗️La durée d’indisponibilité d’Ousmane Dembélé est estimée à environ 6 semaines. Désiré Doué est d’ores et déjà forfait contre… pic.twitter.com/B2vUwnGwhK

— Fabrice Hawkins (@FabriceHawkins) September 6, 2025

Meanwhile, Barcelona are dealing with a injury news of their own as Diario AS’ Javi Miguel reports that Gavi is ruled out for the September 14 contest against Valencia because of ongoing discomfort in his right knee, which he had surgery on just under two years ago.

Furthermore, the report states that Gavi is not expected to feature in Barcelona’s Champions League opener against Newcastle on September 18. As a result, the more realistic focus is now on having Gavi ready for the October 1 clash with PSG, per Miguel.