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Paris Saint-Germain have as soon as once more been hit by a flood of accidents going right into a crunch Champions League knockout tie, however this time Neymar is match and seemingly able to stay as much as his standing because the world’s most costly participant. PSG face Atalanta in Lisbon on Wednesday within the first quarter-final of the ‘Final Eight’, after UEFA turned the latter levels of Europe’s elite membership competitors into one thing akin to a World Cup after the lengthy coronavirus shutdown. There will probably be no followers within the Estadio da Luz, however the French champions coped simply fantastic behind closed doorways after they beat Borussia Dortmund of their final 16, second leg in March.
That night time Neymar scored the opener in a 2-Zero win as they overturned a first-leg deficit.
After the sport, the Brazilian sat on a step excessive up within the stands on the Parc des Princes and cried tears of pleasure.
After all, his first two seasons in Paris following his 222 million-euro ($264 million) switch from Barcelona had been marred by accidents on the worst potential moments.
First there was the damaged metatarsal that noticed him miss the final 16, second leg in opposition to Real Madrid in 2018 as PSG had been knocked out by the reigning champions.
And historical past repeated itself a yr later, as one other metatarsal harm pressured him to overlook the defeat in opposition to a mediocre Manchester United, after they contrived to throw away a 2-Zero first-leg benefit.
Since then, the a lot talked about transfer again to Barcelona has not occurred and doesn’t look prone to occur within the post-pandemic market.
Wednesday’s sport comes a day wanting three years after Neymar made his debut for PSG following that beautiful, 222 million euros switch from Spain.
Aged 28, Neymar now lastly appears settled in Paris and is in fantastic form to steer his workforce in opposition to Atalanta as they appear to progress to the Champions League semi-finals for the primary time because the Qatari takeover in 2011.
“I think I’m having my best time since I came to Paris,” he stated in an interview with the membership’s web site final week.
Mbappe a significant doubt
And how PSG — within the week they rejoice the 50th anniversary of the membership’s founding — want him as coach Thomas Tuchel has all types of choice considerations elsewhere.
His different famous person ahead, Kylian Mbappe, is anticipated to be on the bench at greatest as he battles to shake off an ankle harm suffered in final month’s French Cup remaining in opposition to Saint-Etienne.
Angel Di Maria is suspended, whereas the membership’s all-time report goal-scorer, Edinson Cavani, left on the finish of June when his contract expired. Ironically, he has been tipped to maneuver to Lisbon to signal for Benfica.
Perhaps most worryingly of all, midfield maestro Marco Verratti is out with a calf harm and stories declare the Italian won’t even be match for the ultimate ought to PSG make it.
To high all of it, Tuchel is on crutches too, the German coach breaking his fifth metatarsal and spraining his left ankle throughout a exercise.
Promoted
But so long as Neymar is match, PSG will stay hopeful of progressing to a semi-final subsequent week in opposition to Atletico Madrid or RB Leipzig.
“We’re a very strong team together, we’ve won four titles already this season, and I’m very happy to be the Paris Saint-Germain manager,” Tuchel informed PSG TV this week. “It’s a gift for me.”
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