Achraf Hakimi's Injury: A Setback for PSG
The highly anticipated Champions League semifinal match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is set to occur next Tuesday in Germany. Currently, the French team leads the aggregate series with a score of 5-4. However, PSG's defensive capabilities have taken a significant hit as Achraf Hakimi will be sidelined due to a right thigh injury, as announced by the club on Wednesday.
This unfortunate injury, which is expected to keep Hakimi off the field for the next few weeks, raises concerns regarding his availability for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, where he is anticipated to be a key player for Morocco.
The Moroccan defender sustained a strain in the back of his right thigh during the closing minutes (88th minute) of the thrilling first leg of the Champions League semifinal, where PSG triumphed over Bayern Munich with a score of 5-4 in Paris. Despite the injury, Hakimi continued to play as PSG had already exhausted their substitution options.
When questioned about Hakimi's condition after the match, PSG's coach Luis Enrique chose not to speculate on the severity of the injury, stating, "We will see what his status is on Wednesday." Meanwhile, team captain Marquinhos downplayed the situation, referring to it as mere "cramps." However, medical examinations conducted on Wednesday confirmed that Hakimi indeed suffered a hamstring injury.
This is not the first time Hakimi has faced injury setbacks; he was previously unavailable for several weeks in late 2025 due to an ankle sprain. In light of Hakimi's absence, Warren Zaïre-Emery is expected to step in as his replacement, potentially allowing Spanish player Fabián Ruiz to enter the starting lineup for this crucial European semifinal.
Additionally, goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who is currently serving as a backup to Matveï Safonov, also sustained a right thigh injury and will be unavailable for the next few weeks, further challenging PSG's squad depth.
As reported by elcolombiano.com.
