Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was instrumental in PSG’s spectacular win against FC Bayern. In the second leg, the duel with Josip Stanisic will be a key to reaching the final.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – one name, 13 consonants, seven vowels. Pronounced with a “ch” at the beginning of the first name and in the middle of the last name, it regularly pushes football commentators to their limits. After all, the tongues of Western European football reporters are not necessarily used to such a name – and certainly not to saying it with such frequency and speed as the skills of the 25-year-old winger from Paris Saint-Germain require them to.
Knotted legs – how Kvaratskhelia puts Stanisic through the wringer
And just as Kvaratskhelia tied the commentators’ most important tools in knots, so did Josip Stanisic last Tuesday with his most important tools, his legs. The FC Bayern Munich full-back is used to complicated tasks. In this Champions League season alone he had to deal with Cole Palmer (Chelsea FC), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal FC), Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé (both Real Madrid) – but none of them presented the 26-year-old from Munich with problems like those that Kvaratskhelia caused him.
On the one hand, this was because the two Madrilenians formed a two-man attack and Stanisic was not as on his own as he is now against PSG’s three-man attack. On the other hand, it is because the way Kvaratskhelia plays is about as unfamiliar to most Western Europeans as the pronunciation of his name.
A Georgian street footballer conquers the premier class
There are plenty of wingers with good dribbling skills in the premier class. But the Georgian, who didn’t go through any of the big talent centers in his youth, trained so hard on the soccer field in front of his parents’ house that the neighbors regularly complained, and has a very unique style compared to other ball artists. A street footballer as he was last seen in the Allianz Arena when Franck Ribéry drew his bows in the red and white jersey.
The ball sticks to the Georgian’s foot; and that too when he starts deep from his own half at an incredibly high pace. While many technicians run out of breath after 20 or 30 meters in a full sprint, Kvaratskhelia is then really in his element. With the defender in his sights, he can suddenly slow down at top speed, look for the defender and then make the defender look pretty stupid with two or three lightning-fast changes of direction.
speed, technique, Change of direction: Nightmare for FC Bayern
And so Stanisic stumbled rather awkwardly through the penalty area in Prinzenpark in the 24th minute of the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. Kvaratskhelia had initially loaded him with a fake sprint at the halfway line, then with a quick change of direction he started towards Munich’s sixteen-yard box and completely unloaded Stanisic, who was panting behind, with a stepover and two or three quick ball contacts. With his shot hitting the outside post, he didn’t give Manuel Neuer the slightest chance.
For his second goal, which made it 4-2 for Paris, the Georgian evaded Stanisic’s guard and once again gave Neuer no chance with his shot. But it wasn’t just his offensive skills that caused problems for Munich. At 1.83 meters, he was a popular passer for long balls, which he often claimed.
More than an artist, Kvaratskhelia’s work ethic stands out
But almost as striking as the winger’s offensive skills is his attitude. Unlike most ball artists, Kvaratskhelia works football as much as he plays it. The Georgian ran tirelessly against the Munich builders. Dayot Upamecano, Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic – he regularly came into close contact with all of these FC Bayern players, so that they had to abandon the planned attack and turn away in frustration.
Kvaratskhelia will also be the key player in Paris Saint-Germain’s game at the Allianz Arena this Wednesday. As the most dangerous player, as an artist, as a sprinter, as a long-distance runner and as a tireless workhorse who wants to destroy FC Bayern’s moves in the bud.
Key to reaching the final – the duel Kvaratskhelia against Stanisic
The commentators who are allowed to follow this spectacle between the two most breathtaking offensive teams will have become a little more used to this name with the 13 consonants, seven vowels and the two “Ch”s. And Stanisic will also have dealt intensively with the movement profile of this exceptional player over the past eight days. The decisive factor for FC Bayern’s treble dreams will be how the Munich full-back can implement what he has learned when Kvaratskhelia sprints in with a 60-meter run and Manuel Neuer’s goal as the only goal.
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Source: BR24Sport on the radio May 5, 2026 – 3:54 p.m
