The raised fist of Neymar, knee on the ground to denounce racism alongside all the players before the kick-off of the PSG-Basaksehir match (5-1), set the tone for the evening.
His evening.
The day after the match interrupted by the racist remarks of a referee towards Pierre Achille Webo, the assistant coach of the Turkish club, the n ° 10 of the PSG illuminated the meeting and led Paris to the first place of the group which can give him hope a favorable round of 16 next February.
“He needs rhythm.
He was going through a difficult pass after the Final 8 in Portugal, observes Thomas Tuchel.
He gave everything there.
Then he had the Covid-19.
He struggled to recover well and gain physical capacity.
He feels better.
Today he did a mix of simple play, dribbling and decisive strikes.
His performance is extraordinary.
"
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Positioned at the edge of the 3-5-2 with Kylian Mbappé, Neymar only needed seven minutes to unlock the meeting.
Twenty meters from the goal, he eliminates Punck from a small bridge before scoring with a marvel of striking wound in the skylight (1-0, 21st).
The kick-off of a match marked with its imprint.
The whole Parisian game revolved around him.
Loving the balloons, he improves them most of the time.
Served by Mbappé, he wins his duel with Günok despite the foot of the Turkish goalkeeper (2-0, 38th).
What kill any suspense.
A big gesture for Mbappé
Very mobile, he did not stop calling the ball.
After a one-two with Florenzi, he forced the Turkish goalkeeper to mow him out of a roulette wheel which had allowed Bakker, a scorer to be shifted but finally declared offside after intervention by the VAR.
A penalty that Neymar leaves to Mbappé to allow the world champion to score his first goal of the season in the Champions League (3-0, 39th).
“It's a great gesture, congratulates Thomas Tuchel after the meeting.
He gives this ball which would have allowed him a hat-trick.
This is not trivial as a performance in the Champions League.
He leaves the possibility for Kylian to end a bad streak.
He thinks of his teammate, it proves his big heart.
He knows how important it is for a striker to score.
"
A gesture of lord which allows to restore a little confidence in Mbappé without making forget all the influence of the Brazilian on the meeting.
A hold that he confirms with a new gem.
A dry strike from 17 m after a one-two with Di Maria (4-0, 50 ').
Three goals which bring to 20 the number of his achievements in 25 European matches with Paris.
He is now PSG's second top scorer in the Champions League tied with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and ten lengths behind Edinson Cavani.
"We are happy to have won and we are moving forward," smiles Neymar at the microphone of RMC Sports.
We're coming back a bit, we had finals against Leipzig and Manchester.
I listened to the reviews, it was not easy.
"
"I am very happy here in Paris"
The Brazilian also returned to the specific circumstances of the meeting: “It was hard for everyone.
This must not happen, claimed the Brazilian.
We are followed by millions of people and we must be examples.
We made a bit of a gesture by deciding not to play with the other team.
The fourth referee should be punished for setting an example for everyone and changing.
The smartest thing was to stop.
We will try to be even more examples in the future ”.
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He also returned to his future while discussions are open to extend his contract which runs until 2022: “I am very happy here in Paris.
I am very happy at the club, with my teammates.
The idea of leaving does not cross my mind, he says.
We need to talk.
We have a very good relationship, I am very happy and see what will happen in the future.
"
🔵🔴 A slammed hat-trick and strong words signed by the Brazilian star of PSG #RMCChampions #UCL
- RMC Sport (@RMCsport) December 9, 2020
