Neymar
Neymar Plans to Purchase Private Island in Brazil for €9 Million
The Al-Hilal player, who has recently resumed training with his Saudi League team, is set to elevate his off-field investments by acquiring a private island. Currently, he has been renting the island, Ilhao do Japao, at a cost of €50,000 per day.
Neymar has faced challenges over the past year due to a serious knee injury that has kept him sidelined. While he has returned to training, it is anticipated that he won't be back in action for several months. The winger is taking a cautious approach to his recovery to prolong his career. Meanwhile, he is continuing to enjoy a lavish lifestyle and pursue investments, including the island purchase.
Read: Coach says Neymar is not ready for an imminent return to Al-Hilal
The island, Ilha do Japao, is reportedly being sold for around €9 million. Brazilian journalist Leo Dias revealed that Neymar previously rented the island to explore it thoroughly before making the purchase. The current owner, a Canadian investor, has lowered the price by €3 million, attracting interest from Neymar and other potential buyers. Given its proximity to Rio de Janeiro, Neymar appears to have a particular interest.
The island can accommodate up to ten guests and features a heliport, providing a 35-minute journey from a popular coastal town. Alternatively, it can be reached by boat. Spanning approximately 3 hectares, it includes an Indonesian-style main villa, two suites, a koi pond, and three sea-view bungalows.
Read more: Lionel Messi scores 2 in Argentina's World Cup qualifying win over Peru; Brazil's Neymar injured
This will not be Neymar's first luxury acquisition; he already owns a six-bedroom mansion in the Mangaratiba resort area and previously purchased a glass-fronted palace near São Paulo for €3 million in late 2021.
1 month ago
Neymar breaks Pele's Brazil goal-scoring record in 5-1 win in South American World Cup qualifying
Neymar became the top goal scorer for Brazil's national team after surpassing the total of three-time World Cup winner Pelé on Friday.
The goal that put the 31-year-old Neymar on the top of Brazil's scoring record with 78 came in the 61st minute in a World Cup qualifying match against Bolivia in the Amazon city of Belém.
It was Brazil's fourth goal of the match in a 5-1 win, with the last goal of the game also being scored by Neymar during injury time.
Read : Neymar completes Saudi move to Al Hilal after 6 seasons with Paris Saint-Germain
Neymar's record-breaking goal came after a low cross into the penalty box, which the striker finished with accuracy from close range. He celebrated with a punch in the air, as Pelé usually did.
Earlier, the Al-Hilal striker missed a penalty in the 17th minute, which goalkeeper Billy Viscarra saved.
Neymar's second goal in the match came in similar fashion near the final whistle, with another low cross by Raphinha.
Brazil's soccer confederation considers Pelé as its top goal scorer with 95 goals in 114 matches. FIFA does not count goals the three-time World Cup winner had at national team friendlies against clubs.
Read : Neymar’s publicity representative Robin Miah meets Brazilian envoy in Dhaka
"78 times Neymar," the Brazilian soccer body said on social media after Neymar's record-breaking goal. "Neymar scores the fifth for the Selecao," it said after the striker's second goal against Bolivia.
Pelé's Foundation, however, acknowledged Neymar's achievement.
"Congratulations, Neymar Jr, for surpassing the King in goals for the Brazilian National Team in official FIFA matches," it said on social media. "Surely Pelé is applauding you today!"
Pelé died from cancer on Dec. 29 in Sao Paulo at the age of 82.
Striker Rodrygo, who also scored two goals against Bolivia, said he's still very much a Neymar fan.
"Neymar is very much a hero of mine," Rodrygo said. "This will be in my memory, this was a very special day."
Read : Messi scores from a free kick to give Argentina 1-0 win in South American World Cup qualifying
Neymar's most-recent match for Brazil before the victory over Bolivia was the World Cup quarterfinal loss last year to Croatia. He left Qatar with doubts about his future in the national team and did not play the Selecao's first three games this year.
New Brazil coach Fernando Diniz said Neymar came to play for Brazil "to score goals, break records, show that he is very much willing to live this (the national team.)"
"He is a great hero," Diniz said. "People have to recognize it and accept it. He doesn't do anything to get this adoration he gets from the crowd, it is because of the natural talent he has."
1 year ago
PSG held to 1-1 draw after Reims equalizes in stoppage time
Striker Folarin Balogun equalized deep into stoppage time as Reims earned a 1-1 draw at French league leader Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, keeping PSG three points ahead of second-place Lens.
Balogun, who began his career at Premier League team Arsenal and stood out throughout the game with his movement, latched onto a long pass in the sixth minute of injury time. He easily beat veteran defender Sergio Ramos for pace before confidently shooting past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
It was the 21-year-old forward's 11th league goal of the season and one less than PSG's scorer Neymar.
Neymar struck in the 51st to move one behind league top scorer and teammate Kylian Mbappé, before PSG had midfielder Marco Verratti sent off for a dangerous tackle on Japan winger Junya Ito in the 59th. Verratti made his return from a thigh injury when he came on for the second half.
Read more: Late goals help PSG beat 3rd-tier Châteauroux in French Cup
Midtable Reims extended its unbeaten run to 12 games, which included holding PSG to a 0-0 draw at home in October, and was the better side in the first half.
Donnarumma almost gave a goal away after 23 seconds when he hacked a back pass straight to the opposition but got away with it.
Balogun went close midway through the first half and teammate Marshall Munetsi — a midfielder with Zimbabwe — also caused problems for PSG's static defense.
Referee Ruddy Buquet awarded Reims a penalty shortly after Neymar's goal for a foul on Balogun but changed his mind following a video review.
In the end, Balogun had his say.
PSG has won only one of its last four league games, losing two, and coach Christophe Galtier acknowledged there is a problem.
“We were soporific in the first half, we were quickly split in two and we were on the back foot,” he said. “We abandoned our defense.”
Since the World Cup, PSG has won only two of its five league games and both have been against strugglers. PSG needed an injury-time penalty from Mbappé to beat Strasbourg 2-1, and it beat rock-bottom Angers 2-0. With a much tougher test against Bayern Munich approaching in the round of 16 of the Champions League, PSG needs to improve fast.
Either side of playing Bayern on Feb. 14, PSG has two away games at bitter rival Marseille, in the French Cup and in the league. Marseille is only five points behind PSG in third spot.
Earlier, striker Gaetan Laborde scored the winner as Nice beat Lille 1-0 to end the northern side's six-game unbeaten run.
Laborde netted in the 34th minute after Badredine Bouanani intercepted a poor back pass and set him up for a first-time finish. Lille had not lost in the league since Oct. 30.
Read more: Leader PSG loses 3-1 at Lens for 1st defeat; Monaco in 4th
TEMPERS FLARE
Alexandre Lacazette notched his 12th league goal of the season as Lyon won 2-0 at Corsican side Ajaccio to move into ninth place.
Tempers flared after the game as Lyon coach Laurent Blanc grabbed Ajaccio coach Olivier Pantaloni's face after they had shaken hands, and shoved him away following a verbal exchange.
Pantaloni, who played for Ajaccio as a striker in the 1990s, then walked over to Lyon's bench and clashed with Lyon's goalkeeper coach Rémy Vercoutre. Security officials had to separate them as angry home fans banged on the dugout.
Lacazette cut short his post-game television interview when a lighter thrown from the crowd landed near him. Vercoutre had to be escorted away as fans insulted him and some tried to get on the field.
The visitors took the lead in the 20th when 20-year-old midfielder Johann Lepenant turned in Bradley Barcola's pass.
Lacazette, who re-joined hometown Lyon in the summer after five seasons in the Premier League with Arsenal, scored his 144th goal overall for the club in the 72nd. France's 2018 World Cup winner Corentin Tolisso and Argentina's World Cup-winning left back Nicolás Tagliafico combined to set him up.
OTHER MATCHES
Dutch forward Thijs Dallinga scored twice for Toulouse in a 2-1 win at struggling Strasbourg.
Veteran striker Kevin Gameiro put the Alsace side ahead in the 20th, but Dallinga equalized for Toulouse five minutes later and struck again early in the second half.
Strikers Jérémy Le Douaron and Steve Mounie scored first-half goals for Brest in a 4-0 home win against bottom side Angers. Midfielders Franck Honorat and Pierre Lees-Melou scored after the break.
English forward Stephy Mavididi scored both goals as Montpellier got a much-needed 2-0 win at 19th-place Auxerre to move away from relegation trouble, and Clermont drew 0-0 at home to Nantes.
1 year ago
Neymar’s future with Brazil uncertain after World Cup loss
The joy of scoring one of his biggest goals for Brazil quickly turned into tears after yet another disappointing elimination for Neymar with the national team.
The World Cup quarterfinal loss to Croatia was a tough one to take for the Brazil forward, and it could mean the end of his time with the national team.
Neymar remains without a major title with Brazil, and it’s unclear if he will try to be back for a fourth World Cup four years from now, when he will be 34 years old.
“It would be too hasty to come here and say that this is it, but I can’t guarantee anything,” Neymar said after Brazil’s 4-2 loss to Croatia in a penalty shootout on Friday. “I have to take some time to think about it. I’m not closing any doors to the Selecao, but I’m also not saying 100% that I want to be back.”
Before the tournament in Qatar, Neymar hadn’t ruled out this being his last World Cup appearance.
“Honestly, I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s hard to talk about it right now,” he said Friday. “Now it’s time to go home and lament.”
Not winning the title could keep him motivated to return, as for now his only triumphs with the national team remain the 2013 Confederations Cup title and the Olympic gold medal from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Read: Croatia end Brazil's dream of 6th World Cup
Neymar theoretically has until March to make a decision about his future, because that’s when South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is expected to begin.
It looked like Neymar was going to send Brazil to the semifinals for the first time since 2014 when he scored in extra time to move into a tie with Pelé as the national team’s all-time scoring leader with 77 goals. But Croatia equalized in the final minutes and won the shootout after Rodrygo and Marquinhos failed to convert their penalties for the five-time champions.
Neymar didn’t even get a chance to help in the shootout because Brazil coach Tite had reserved him to take the fifth penalty, which never materialized.
“It’s hard to say that it would have made a difference (if I had taken one of the early penalties),” he said. “We can’t single out anyone. We win together and we lose together.”
Reaching the semifinals in Qatar could have meant redemption for Neymar after what happened at the 2014 tournament hosted by Brazil. He couldn’t play in the semifinals after hurting his back in the quarterfinal win against Colombia, and Brazil eventually lost to Germany 7-1.
Four years later, Neymar and Brazil lost to Belgium in the quarterfinals.
Read: Neymar ties Pelé’s all-time record with Brazil at World Cup
Neymar also missed the 2019 Copa America, which Brazil won at home, because of a right ankle problem.
He survived another injury scare in Qatar after damaging ligaments in his right ankle in Brazil’s opening match. It wasn’t clear if he would be able to play again, but he ended up recovering for the round of 16, when he scored one of Brazil’s goals in the 4-1 win over South Korea.
Neymar joined Brazil as an 18-year-old in 2010 and quickly became the nation’s top star. If he leaves now, there is no clear replacement for him. Vinícius Júnior and maybe Rodrygo — his immediate substitute in Qatar — could potentially try to fill that role.
Most fans hope Neymar will be back, and so does the man whose record he tied on Friday.
“Keep inspiring us,” Pelé said in a message to Neymar. “I will keep punching the air with joy for every goal you score, as I did in every match I saw you on the pitch. Our biggest duty as athletes is to inspire. Inspire our teammates of today, the next generations and, above all, everyone who loves our sport.”
1 year ago
Neymar ties Pelé's record but loses again at World Cup
Neymar walked off the field with teammate Dani Alves by his side, tears still rolling down the Brazil forward's cheeks.
Other players had already tried to console Neymar as he cried while sitting near midfield, head down, hiding his face.
There wasn't much they could say to get the team's biggest star to lift his head up.
Again there was disappointment instead of joy at the end of a World Cup for Neymar. Again he couldn't lead Brazil to a major title.
It was his third failure at a World Cup, and his only triumphs with the national team are the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, when Brazil won its first gold medal in soccer.
Neymar said it wasn't the time to talk about his future with the national team.
Read more: Croatia end Brazil's dream of 6th World Cup
“Honestly, I don't know what's going to happen. It's hard to talk about it right now,” he said. “It would be too hasty to come here and say that this is it, but I can't guarantee anything. I have to take some time to think about it. I'm not closing any doors to the Seleção, but I'm also not saying 100% that I want to be back."
Neymar scored Friday to move level with Pelé as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals, but the Seleção ended up losing to Croatia 4-2 in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals after the match finished 1-1 after extra time.
Neymar never had a chance to take a penalty after Rodrygo and Marquinhos missed their spot kicks.
“He would have taken the fifth penalty,” Brazil coach Tite said. “That's the one with the most pressure, and he would be the player with the most quality and mental preparedness to take the shot.”
Neymar scored his goal in extra time with a right-footed shot after getting through the defense and dribbling past the Croatia goalkeeper to match Pelé’s record. He entered the tournament two goals shy of the milestone, and scored his 76th in the round of 16 against South Korea after returning from an ankle injury.
The 82-year-old Pelé showed his support to Neymar from his hospital bed in Brazil, where he was improving while being treated for a respiratory infection that was aggravated by COVID-19.
“I saw you grow, I cheered for you every day and I can finally congratulate you for reaching my number of goals with Brazil. We both know that this is more than a figure,” he wrote on Instagram. “Our biggest duty as athletes is to inspire. Inspire our teammates of today, the next generations and, above all, everyone who loves our sport.
“Unfortunately, this is not the happiest day for us,” Pelé added. “My record was set almost 50 years ago, and nobody had managed to get near it until now. You got there, kid. That shows how great your achievement is.”
Brazil was close to returning to the semifinals for the first time since 2014, but instead Neymar looked in anguish from midfield as Croatia substitute Bruno Petkovic equalized in the 117th minute.
Neymar also didn't play in the last four of the tournament that Brazil hosted eight years ago. He suffered a serious back injury in the quarterfinals against Colombia and then saw his teammates lose 7-1 to Germany.
The 30-year-old Neymar scored his 77 goals in 124 matches for Brazil. Pelé’s goals came in 92 appearances with the national team between 1957 and 1971.
Ronaldo, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002, is third on the list with 62 goals in 98 matches.
Pelé won three World Cups, including when he was 17 years old in the 1958 tournament. He also helped Brazil win the World Cup in 1962 and 1970.
Read more: Neymar ties Pelé’s all-time record with Brazil at World Cup
Neymar first played for Brazil as an 18-year-old in 2010. He is the only other Brazil player other than Pelé and Ronaldo to score in three different World Cups.
Neymar damaged ligaments in his ankle in Brazil’s opening win against Serbia, and his participation in the rest of the tournament was in doubt because of the injury. He made it back to the starting lineup after missing two group games, and played about 80 minutes in Brazil’s 4-1 win over South Korea on Monday.
The forward has had right ankle problems in the past, being among a series of injuries since the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Another right ankle sprain forced him to miss the 2019 Copa América, which Brazil won.
1 year ago
FIFA World Cup 2022: Brazil with plenty of options to replace Neymar
With Neymar out for at least another match, Brazil coach Tite must now start thinking about a replacement - and this time he has plenty of options.
Brazil is not as Neymar-dependent as it used to be, and Tite could go several different ways to replace the Paris Saint-Germain forward for Monday’s Group G match against Switzerland.
Neymar hurt his right ankle in Brazil’s opening 2-0 win against Serbia on Thursday. He has ligament damage and team doctors have not given a timetable for his recovery — or said if he will be able to recover at all.
Tite brought nine forwards to the World Cup, and could also add a midfielder as Neymar’s replacement if wanted.
The most straightforward option would be to use Rodrygo in Neymar’s position, keeping Raphinha, Vinícius Júnior and Richarlison in attack. Rodrygo playes more as an attacker at Real Madrid, but he has trained in Neymar’s “No. 10” playmaking position while with Brazil in Qatar.
Read: France vs Denmark FIFA World Cup 2022 LIVE Streaming: Where and how to watch online and on TV Channel, predicted XI
Another alternative would be to put an extra midfielder in Neymar’s position — Manchester United’s Fred or Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães, for example — freeing up attacking midfielder Lucas Paquetá, who played closer to defensive midfielder Casemiro against Serbia.
Another attacking midfielder available to Tite is Everton Ribeiro, while the other forwards in the squad are Gabriel Jesus, Antony, Gabriel Martinelli and Pedro.
Neymar attracted most of the attention from the tough Serbian defense, which kept roughing him up from the start. He was fouled nine times during the game, the most by any player at the World Cup in the first round of matches in the group stage.
Read: Poland vs Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2022 LIVE Streaming: Where and how to watch online and on TV Channel, predicted XI
Neymar is Brazil’s second-best all-time scorer with 75 goals, two behind Pelé’s record with the national team. The last time he was out at a World Cup — because of a back injury sustained in the quarterfinals against Colombia in 2014 — Brazil went on to get embarrassed by Germany 7-1 in the semifinals.
Tite won’t be able to count on right back Danilo, who also sprained his ankle against Serbia. Danilo’s replacement will likely be veteran Daniel Alves, although Tite could also use central defender Éder Militão in the position.
Brazil, seeking its first World Cup title in two decades, faces Cameroon in its last group match. It can reach the round of 16 in advance with a win on Monday if Cameroon doesn’t defeat Serbia in the other group match.
1 year ago
FIFA World Cup: Neymar in tears after injury against Serbia
Neymar sat crying on the bench and later left the stadium limping with a swollen right ankle after Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Serbia at the World Cup on Thursday.
Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Neymar sprained his ankle.
“We put ice on it while he was on the bench and then in physiotherapy,” Lasmar said. “There is no test scheduled for now but we will schedule it if needed. He will be under observation. We will know more tomorrow.”
Brazil coach Tite said he was “confident that Neymar will continue playing at the World Cup,” but Lasmar said it was too early to comment on the extent of the injury.
Read more: FIFA World Cup: Richarlison's second-half brace give Brazil 2-0 win over Serbia
Neymar was also injured at the 2014 World Cup. Playing at home in Brazil, his tournament ended with a back injury in the quarterfinals against Colombia when he had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. Brazil ended up losing to Germany 7-1 in the semifinals.
Neymar, who was fouled nine times in the match against Serbia, got injured in the second half and was substituted in the 79th minute. Tite said he stayed on the field for 11 minutes before asking to be replaced.
“He overcame the injury because the team needed him,” Tite said. “I didn’t even see that he had been injured. He just kept playing.”
Neymar was in tears on the bench as doctors began treating him in the final minutes of the game at Lusail Stadium. He pulled his shirt over his head as doctors taped ice around his foot. He went into the locker room limping, and also limped as he left the stadium without speaking to reporters.
“The most important thing for us it to have him at 100% for the next match,” said Brazil striker Richarlison, who scored both goals on Thursday, including one after a buildup started by Neymar. “When I get to the hotel I’m going to go and see how he is doing.”
Neymar was tackled hard a few times during the match and was limping and grimacing before having to leave the field. He was the most fouled player on the field.
Read more: Ronaldo makes history, becomes first male player to score at five World Cups
The 30-year-old Neymar has yet to win a major title with the national team. He helped the “Seleção” win the 2013 Confederations Cup and its first Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
With 75 goals for the national team, he is two shy of Pelé’s scoring record.
1 year ago
PSG drops points after 1-1 draw with Monaco; Marseille wins
Neymar won and scored a penalty as Paris Saint-Germain rallied to draw 1-1 at home to Monaco and stay in first place in the French league on Sunday.
Neymar latched onto Lionel Messi's pass down the left and cut inside central defender Guillermo Maripan, who appeared to catch him with an outstretched leg.
The referee waved away PSG's penalty claims but then awarded the kick following a video review. Neymar used his usual staggered run-up to confuse goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel before casually guiding the ball inside the left post. It was Neymar's sixth goal in the league and eighth goal in five games overall.
PSG has 10 points and leads on goal difference from bitter rival Marseille and northern side Lens.
Monaco rode its luck at times but closed down PSG well early on, denying space to its famed attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, then took the lead in the 20th.
After recent signing Mohamed Camara tackled Messi near the halfway line, Russia midfielder Aleksandr Golovin sent a pass into the path of German striker Kevin Volland, who held off central defender Presnel Kimpembe before striking a low shot into the bottom right corner.
PSG's strike force had netted 17 league goals in the three previous league games under new coach Christophe Galtier, but did not hit the target until Mbappe's tame shot in the 37th.
“They closed us down well,” PSG captain Marquinhos said. “They stopped us bringing the ball out from the back.”
PSG then struck the post twice in first-half injury time, with Messi's curler from 20 meters clipping the left upright and bouncing to Mbappe, who rushed his shot and hit the base of the right post.
Marquinhos conceded a clumsy corner right at the start of the second half and, minutes later, Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder went close with a lob for 12th-place Monaco after goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma rushed off his line.
Read:Liverpool equals EPL record in 9-0 win over Bournemouth
Nuebel made a fine stop to deny Neymar in the 59th but was well beaten on his penalty.
Meanwhile, coach Igor Tudor’s new-look Marseille is looking good as Alexis Sanchez scored twice and his team won 3-0 at southern rival Nice in an earlier game.
Nice recruited strongly, bringing in established Premier League players like goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, midfielder Aaron Ramsey and forward Nicolas Pepe, but is still seeking a win and is in 18th place.
Marseille has made a strong start under Tudor, who is known as a disciplinarian and whose appointment was questioned by fans — especially when he left veteran playmaker Dimitri Payet out of the first three games.
But Tudor is winning the fans over with a high-octane brand of pressing soccer. He also said he'd give the 35-year-old Payet games. This time, he started him playing just behind Sanchez — a much-heralded signing from Italian champion Inter Milan.
The Chile forward grabbed his first goal in the 10th minute and, after former Arsenal fullback Nuno Tavares made it three goals in four games this season, Tavares combined with Payet to help set up Sanchez's second goal in the 42nd.
OTHER MATCHES
Marseille was not the only side scoring freely away from home, with Montpellier netting five first-half goals in a 7-0 victory at Brest.
The 19-year-old striker Elye Wahi scored twice and veteran forward Valere Germain added two second-half goals for eighth-place Montpellier.
It was a stinging defeat for Brest coach Michel Der Zakarian, who played 10 years for the club as a defender and coached it from 2017-21.
Striker Moussa Dembélé's towering late header earned fourth-place Lyon a 1-1 draw at Reims.
Promoted Toulouse led early with a goal from midfielder Zakaria Aboukhlal but conceded three second-half goals in a 3-1 loss at midtable Nantes.
Nigeria striker Terem Moffi scored both goals as Lorient beat Clermont 2-1 at home.
Elsewhere, Troyes beat Angers 3-1 in a scrap between lowly sides.
2 years ago
Trophee des Champions 2022: Messi, Neymar likely to start for PSG against Nantes
The winners of the Coupe de France compete against the Ligue 1 champions in the Trophee des Champions each year. The Trophee des Champions 2022 will be played between the Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain and Coupe de France winners Nantes on Monday at the Bloomfield Stadium at 12 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). Superstar footballers Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. are most likely to start for PSG in this contest. The Paris Saint-Germain vs Nantes match preview and probable team lineups are discussed in this article.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Nantes Trophee des Champions 2022: Probable team lineups
PSG will be without their most expensive player, Kylian Mbappe, for this Trophee des Champions 2022 clash against Nantes. The French forward will serve a one-game ban, which means Argentine forward Mauro Icardi will likely partner with Brazilian Neymar Jr. upfront. Lionel Messi will serve as a false 9. Messi will play between the two strikers.
PSG’s new head coach, Christophe Galtier, used a 3-4-1-2 system in the pre-season friendlies in Japan and his side looked sharp with the new formation. In particular, the connection between Messi and Neymar has been noticeable. In the midfield, Marco Verratti and Vitinha are very much in the coach’s plan for next season.
Read UEFA Women's EURO 2022 Final: England vs Germany preview, lineups, prediction
Predicted starting XI (PSG)
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma;
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe, Sergio Ramos;
Midfielders: Marco Verratti, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes;
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Neymar, Mauro Icardi
Nantes’ head coach, Antoine Kombouare, previously managed Paris Saint-Germain's senior team from 2009 to 2011 and won a Coupe de France trophy in 2010. Twelve years later, Kombouare won the trophy with Nantes as manager last season. His side finished ninth in Ligue 1 in the 2021-2022 season. Nobody will bet on Nantes to win the game. Their primary goal in the game would be to put up a fight against PSG.
Read England and Germany set for historic Euro 2022 final
Predicted starting XI (Nantes)
GK: Alban Lafont;
Defenders: Jean-Charles Castelletto, Nicolas Pallois, Andrei Girotto, Sebastien Corchia;
Midfielders: Moussa Sissoko, Samuel Moutoussamy, Quentin Merlin, Ludovic Blas;
Forwards: Moses Simon, Mostafa Mohamed.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Nantes H2H Stats
Paris Saint-Germain and Nantes have met each other on 31 occasions. PSG have led head-to-head stats with 25 wins, while Nantes have won only three matches and the remaining three matches ended in a draw. Given the stats, Nantes seem to have no chance against the Parisian club.
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However, Nantes have a good record in recent duels, winning two of their three victories in the previous three meetings. All of their three victories came at the Stade de la Beaujoire, the home ground of Nantes. A total of 86 goals have been scored between the two sides, where PSG have netted 67, while Nantes have scored only 19.
Match prediction:
PSG 3 – 1 Nantes
Verdict
Paris Saint-Germain and Nantes will miss a few of their regular starters for this Trophee des Champions 2022 match. Mbappe missing the contest due to suspension is the biggest of them all. However, PSG have some world-class footballers in their squad who will draw fans to watch the game.
Lionel Messi and Neymar are the two big stars for PSG who can rattle the opposition defense and dazzle the crowds. PSG are overwhelmingly favourites to clinch the trophy, but ruling completely out the Nantes side wouldn’t be justified. Because anything is possible in a one-off contest and Nantes have the ability to stun the French giant in this year’s Trophee des Champions.
Read UEFA Women’s EURO 2022: Previews for the semifinals
2 years ago
Neymar and Messi jeered by seething PSG fans in 3-0 home win
Record-breakers Neymar and Lionel Messi felt the heat from Paris Saint-Germain’s angry fans following another Champions League humiliation, getting whistled every time they touched the ball during a 3-0 home win against Bordeaux on Sunday.
Even when Neymar scored the second goal against rock-bottom Bordeaux the fans jeered him. Even when Messi embarked on a trademark run from deep and hit the post he got booed.
While the runaway leader moved 15 points clear in a league it usually dominates, the fans want success elsewhere.
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Yet PSG blew it again in the Champions League this week against Real Madrid. A few weeks ago they also got knocked out the French Cup and coach Mauricio Pochettino is widely expected to be replaced next season.
At which point Kylian Mbappe, who scored PSG’s first goal against Bordeaux midway through the first half, might be playing for Real Madrid. His contract runs out in June and he can leave on a free transfer.
PSG’s top scorer was the only player spared the whistles when the team names were read out.
Record seven-time Golden Ball winner Messi and Neymar — the world’s most expensive player at 222 million euros ($242 million) — were booed throughout. The two former Barcelona stars were also on the receiving end of some hostile chants encouraging them to leave.
A banner read “Direction Demission” (Directors Resign) seemingly aimed at sporting director Leonardo and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. PSG’s ultras group — known as CUP — demanded in a statement Saturday night that Al-Khelaifi leave.
Some fans in the Auteuil section at Parc des Princes even turned up 15 minutes late in protest at PSG’s midweek meltdown.
The team’s supporters are seething at the manner of the latest humiliating Champions League exit.
PSG was up 2-0 on aggregate but fell apart following goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s error. Madrid star Karim Benzema scored three goals in 17 minutes to knock PSG out of the competition that its cash-rich Qatari owners crave so much.
Three years ago PSG became the first team to be eliminated after winning the away leg 2-0, losing to Manchester United 3-1. In 2017, it was the first to be eliminated after winning the first leg 4-0, losing 6-1 away at Barcelona.
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Bordeaux has leaked 68 goals, the most in the league, but almost scored in the first minute on Sunday.
With Donnarumma dropped, it was Keylor Navas in goal. He saved Remi Oudin’s 20-meter strike before Jean Onana’s header from the corner went just wide.
Neymar lost the ball against Madrid and against Nice in PSG’s 1-0 loss last weekend — both times leading to counter-attack goals.
His goal against Bordeaux came in the 52nd minute with a tap-in. A powerful strike from midfielder Leandro Paredes made it 3-0 in the 61st.
Later Sunday, Marseille needed to win at Brest to move level on points with Nice in second place and the automatic Champions League spot.
2 years ago