Neymar is set to miss PSG Champions League round 16 second-leg clash against Bayern Munich due to injury.
It’s a sad report for the Ligue 1 giants who stumbled in the first leg at home in Paris, settling for a 0-1 defeat to the Bundesliga champions.
France international Kingsley Coman beat the classical and vintage performance of Sergio Ramos to fire the Bavarians into the lead in the second half after intense pressure on the defense of the Ligue 1 champions.
One of PSG’s deadly attacking trio Kylian Mbappe started from the bench in the second half. After coming on, the 2022 World Cup final hero gave a scintillating touch to the PSG attack. He scored twice but the goals were ruled out.
The Bavarians ran away with a hard-fought 0-1 victory at Parc des Princes and will await the Parisians at Allianz Arena Germany for the return leg.
Neymar played the full 90 minutes in the game. It was a below-par display by the Brazil international especially in the first half of the encounter when the Bavarians grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and showed more hunger for victory.
However, Neymar was crucial in Kylian Mbappe’s vintage performance in the second half creating space for the French star.
Christophe Galtier must have hoped to field his best lineup featuring the deadly attacking trio when traveling to Allianz Arena for the return leg.
Sadly, it has been confirmed Neymar will be missing from the lineup against the Bavarians after picking up an injury in February.
It is big blow to the team’s morale ahead of the crunch tie against Bayern Munich. Christophe Galtier has confirmed Neymar is still sidelined and will not join the team at Allianz Arena.
The 31-year-old picked up an excruciating injury in PSG’s 3-2 Ligue 1 win over Lille in February. He was stretched off at the Parc des Princes following the injury.
Contrary to expectations, he will return for the make-or-break Champions League tie against Bayern Munich, Christophe Galtier confirmed Neymar will miss the next two matches for PSG – the Ligue game against Nantes and the Champions League game against Bayern Munich.
Christophe Galtier added Neymar’s absence is a big blow to the team and has necessitated a planned tactical change for the game.
‘He will be out,’ said the Frenchman said. ‘I think that he will miss out against Bayern. His absence will be detrimental to us.’
‘Our block is much more compact, denser,’ he added. ‘With the absence of Neymar, instead of having two midfielders, we will be with three midfielders and two attackers.
‘To tell you that Neymar’s absence is trivial… no. It’s a detrimental absence for us.’
Christophe Galtier is under pressure at PSG after being bundled out of Coup de France by Marseille and also on the brink of Champions League exit.
PSG are eight points clear of the Ligue 1 table but crashing out of the Champions League in round 16 may likely end Christophe Galtier’s spell with PSG as manager.
Over a decade after the Qatari takeover of the club, PSG are yet to win the Champions League. They reached the final in 2020 but lost to the same opponent they are facing now in round 16.
Cracking the elite European club competition has been core in the plan of PSG President Nassr Al-Khelaifi and Galtier has his job at stake if the Ligue 1 giants exit the tournament in round 16 again in two consecutive seasons.
