Neymar Gets PSG Back On Track
Zeeshan Mehtab Published September 24, 2018 | 12:51 AM
Paris, Sept 23 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Sep, 2018 ) :From a deeper than usual playmaker role Brazil's Neymar pulled the strings as Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Rennes 3-1 in Ligue 1 on Sunday helping to dispel midweek memories of a European flop at Liverpool.
Hosts Rennes took a surprise 11th minute lead when PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot nodded past his own 'keeper Gianluigii Buffon from a corner before goals from Angel di Maria, Thomas Meunier and Eric Maxim Chupo-Moting gave them a hard-fought sixth straight Ligue 1 win.
PSG critics had suggested the French giants had overspent on strikers and forgotten about the midfield after a tame 3-2 defeat in the Champions League at Anfield this week.
With superstar striker Kylian Mbappe banned after his red card there was room for both Di Maria and German winger Julian Draxler in the starting line up with Neymar pulled into the No.10 position, where his passes were a sight to behold, behind Edindson Cavani.
A young fan ran onto the pitch as Neymar was leaving as a late sub and the youngster crumpled in tears as his hero hugged him and gave him his shirt in touching scenes bound to glorify the former Barcelona striker when they go viral on social media.
- Di Maria cracker - After Rabiot's earlier upset Neymar seemed to be at the origin of almost everything the visitors threw at Rennes including when Cavani hit the post from a sumptuous set up.
On the stroke of half time Draxler cut back from the by-line and Cavani dummied setting up di Maria to crack a precise jab into the bottom right-hand corner from a good 25 meres out.
The 26-year-old Neymar was at the origin of both Meunier's go ahead goal on 61 and for Chupo-Moting's first goal for the Parisians since joining from Stoke.
Buffon had his work cut out in the second half as Rennes playmaker Clement Grenier fed the speedy Senegalese strike-pair M'Baye Niang and the 20-year-old Ismaila Sarr.
Rennes coach Sabri Lamouchi threw on ex-PSG midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa for one last roll of the dice but PSG went home woth all three points and ideas about a new format for coach Thomas Tuchel.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
More Stories From Sports
-
Norman sees Adelaide success as blueprint for all LIV Golf events
2 minutes ago -
Mohsin Naqvi reconstitutes women’s selection committee
32 minutes ago -
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performance
2 hours ago -
Paris holds its breath for Olympic swimming events in murky Seine
4 hours ago -
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
14 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
14 hours ago
-
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
14 hours ago -
Watford hire Cleverley as permanent boss
14 hours ago -
Karachi, Lahore, Multan win matches of National Women’s Cricket Tournament
15 hours ago -
No communication gap among players, asserts Babar Azam
15 hours ago -
Bracewell looks ahead to Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan
15 hours ago -
Bolt named ICC Men’s T20 WC 2024 ambassador
16 hours ago