PSG vs. Real Madrid: Neymar could miss first leg of Champions League matchup
PSG vs. Real Madrid will begin on Feb. 15 at the Parc des Princes, with Madridistas remembering the last time the club took a trip to Paris and were blown out in the Champions League group stages. Real are a stronger team now than they were then, as the attacking load is no longer solely carried by Karim Benzema. Vinicius Junior’s emergence in 2021-2022 has been massive for Los Blancos.
Meanwhile, the Parisians may be without one of their superstar forwards for the first leg clash at the Parc des Princes.
According to a report from RMC Sport, playmaker Neymar has yet another injury. The Brazilian icon is suffering from a sprained left ankle which is expected to cost him four to five weeks of time. And that places his status for the first leg in jeopardy.
Looking at the calendar and lining it up with that timeline, it seems like Neymar should be able to play against Real Madrid. Madridistas should not assume he is out. But like the last time these two teams played, which was at the Santiago Bernabeu, Neymar could come off the bench. That would still be a problem for Real, because he can be a spark in the final stages of a match.
Neymar has been better in Ligue 1 than the Champions League
Much is made of the 29-year-old’s injuries and the fact that he has been out of his best form lately. However, Neymar is still quietly having a great season for PSG in Ligue 1. He has three goals and three assists with 3.7 dribbles completed per game, 3.1 fouls drawn per game, and 2.3 key passes per game. Those stats keep him in an elite class among attacking playmakers.
The Champions League has been more of a mixed bag, though. Neymar is drawing more fouls but completing a full key pass per game less and nearly a full dribble completed less than in Ligue 1. Worse yet, he did not contribute to a goal in his four Champions League starts.
Next. The 5 players Real Madrid should have never sold. dark
Despite those mediocre performances in the UCL, Neymar is a world-class player and the key attacking progressor and weaver of magic in the attack. Kylian Mbappe is the top assist provider and is reaching another level as a playmaker, but the Brazilian should never be underestimated. If he cannot play in the first leg, that is a major boost to Los Blancos, especially Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal, who will already have their hands full with others like Mbappe.