Despite controlling 73 percent possession and attempting 21 shots compared to just seven for PSG, Barcelona could only manage one goal at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday — which was canceled out by a controversial Kylian Mbappé penalty in a 1-1 draw — to crash out of the Champions League at the Round of 16 stage, 5-2 on aggregate.
PSG star Neymar has reportedly contacted Barcelona star Lionel Messi ahead of the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 between PSG and Barcelona to convince him to leave the club and agree to play for the Parisian side next season.
According to French newspaper L'Equipe, the Brazilian star called ‘La Pulga' before Joan Laporta had been appointed as the new president of Barcelona and insisted that he should accept PSG's proposal to play together again.
No empezó mal el Barcelona. Los catalanes abrían los octavos de final de la Champions League 2020-21 ante el PSG y a los 26 minutos, Lionel Messi convertía de penal el 1-0 sobre los franceses.
Los lanzamientos desde los doce pasos son un punto débil del argentino, pero ante Keylor Navas, su disparo fue de manual.
Lionel Messi scores his 28th goal in 27 round of 16 games. No one has scored more goals in this stage of the knockouts pic.twitter.com/A9tKcWlzNV
If this is the end of the Lionel Messi era at Barcelona, it’s a fitting one. It’s not what the six-time Ballon d’Or winner deserves, but at least it’s definitive. There’ll be no backwards glances, no what-ifs, just the resounding truth that a beautiful cycle has clearly reached its end: After losing 8-2 to Bayern Munich last season, Barça is on pace to match that level of embarrassment after getting rinsed 4-1 by PSG at the Camp Nou on Tuesday.
I can’t think of a more terrifying proposition in football than lining up as a right back against Kylian Mbappé. Sergiño Dest found out just how quickly things can turn as the young American was subbed out after Barcelona conceded three straight goals in a 4-1 defeat to PSG on Tuesday.
PARIS — Paris St Germain forward Neymar's latest injury can be blamed on a hectic match schedule and the COVID-19 crisis, coach Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday.
Neymar has been ruled out for four weeks with a groin injury, meaning he will miss the first leg of PSG’s Champions League last-16 tie at his former club Barcelona on Tuesday.
"When you look at the way injuries have increased it is because of the huge workload and the number of competitive games," Pochettino told a news conference on the eve of PSG’s Ligue 1 game at home to Nice.
Neymar, PSG's Brazilian star, recently reflected on the distractions that soccer players need, like the parties that he usually organizes that arouse all kinds of opinions.
"This is a very peculiar topic, because who doesn't like to party? Everyone likes to have fun, go out with their friends, with their family," the striker said in an interview with the club's official website.
He already said it himself a few weeks ago: Lionel Messi will make a decision on his future once the 2020-21 season is over. In the meantime, Barcelona is still dreaming of retaining him once the new president of the club is known after the March elections.
After a 3-2 defeat to relegation-threatened Lorient on Jan. 31 acted as the first true bit of unpleasantness in Mauricio Pochettino’s short Paris Saint-Germain reign, the club has since rebounded nicely with back-to-back victories over Nîmes and Marseille in Le Classique.
Key to the uptick has been the play of Kylian Mbappé, who reached and surpassed the career landmark of 150 goals with two world-class goals in those wins.
Against Nîmes, the 22-year-old showcased the lethal finishing power of his right foot.
Nicolas Anelka has added a new adventure to his soccer career. The former Real Madrid and PSG player was presented on Wednesday as the new sporting director of the modest Hyères Football Club, a team that is currently in National 2, equivalent to the fourth division in France.
Bienvenue à notre nouveau directeur sportif Nicolas Anelka
Welcome to our new sports director Nicolas AnelkaBienvenido a nuestro nuevo director deportivo Nicolas Anelka
निदेशक निकोलस अनेल्का