Special envoy to Dortmund
It was his hour. That of the lords ready to enter the arena and leave the bulging torso. Suffice to say that the mission turns out to be failed. Short of form after having occupied the infirmary since February 1, the Brazilian had been put in the fridge for almost three weeks with a very specific goal: to land in Dortmund and guide his team to the summits. After 90 minutes of a round of 16 go badly negotiated by Paris SG (2-1 defeat), the Brazilian star did not meet - again in a cleaver match in the Champions League - expectations. For 222 million euros of transfer and more than 3M € per month of salary, PSG is still awaiting its return on investment. It is all very well to reign over Ligue 1 every weekend, but neither he, nor his club, nor his supporters, nor just anybody, can be satisfied with such a performance when the level rises. The return match in three weeks will bring a lot of answers. This time there will be no pretense let alone an excuse. Two situations await it. The posture of savior, boss that he is not yet completely. Or that of a man who dreams of being a football god but ultimately finds himself in check in Paris.
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Tuesday night, the Brazilian did not reign over the debates, despite a key goal in the 75th minute of play and some hot situations. Lucien Favre, an informed observer of Ligue 1 since his passage in Nice (2016-2018), had inevitably prepared his move with meticulousness and cunning. As of the reception of the balloon, that it is Hakimi, Witsel, sometimes Hummels or Can, all had well understood the instruction to him "stick to the basques". You would say a routine for the most expensive player in the world, used to this type of welcome committee in the Champions League and in Ligue 1. But logically out of shape, he suffered like all of his partners Tuesday evening facing the Yellow Wall. However, he had at the outset made speak of his ability to create differences, to take the game on his own and to bring danger to the opposing camp. Creating the only opportunity for PSG in the first forty-five minutes with a free kick well felt 25m from the goal of Bürki (11th), following a foul ... on himself.
13 balloons lost in the first period
The rest was more difficult for Neymar. Even chaotic. With a drop in engine speed (0 shots on target) and a consequent waste (13 lost balloons) over the minutes of the first act. Like a PSG unable to impose its game against the freshness of the current third in the Bundesliga. At the break, the Brazilian returned to the locker room head down. Conscious of suffering. And not to bring its full measure to a tailor-made match. The result was a bit more cheerful but not radiant with always so much rubbish, ill-felt gestures or approximations. And a weight on the play of his team too light for a player of his caliber, who only contested his second round of 16 out of the five contested by his club in the last three seasons.
Meanwhile, PSG had just conceded the opening of the score by Haaland (1-0, 69th). The thinning - and the decisive gesture - finally came after a balancing act by Kylian Mbappé, who offered on a plateau the equalizing goal to the Brazilian (1-1, 76th), well placed. The 34th achievement in 56 Champions League games for the 28-year-old striker that we thought was finally launched in this meeting. In vain. The Haaland buffalo made everyone agree (2-1, 77th) and capsized the Yellow Wall in another dimension. Opposite, Neymar missed the match ball with a strike on the post (81st) in the money-time. A key moment for the very grown-ups he claims to be. For over two years now at Paris SG, everyone is still hungry. And no one can be satisfied with such a starving performance in the matches that count. Those who make you the expected and respected leader. Status for which he was recruited at a gold prize. Next March 11th during the 8th finals return, the entire Parc des Princes will scrutinize his every move. In the hope of a (finally) XXL Neymar. Hurry up.
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