Paris Saint-Germain moved 14 points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table with a 3-0 win over their rivals Olympique de Marseille but the victory may have come with a very heavy price.
In the 77th minute, Neymar Jr. fell to the pitch in a heap in obvious pain. The replay showed that there was no contact–like there had been the entire match–and instead, the Brazilian simply rolled his ankle. Despite looking fairly innocuous, Neymar was unable to walk off the pitch on his own and was stretchered off with his hands over his face.
We’re still waiting for official word on Neymar’s injury. After the match, manager Unai Emery said that the injury appears to be a sprain but with 10 days until PSG welcome Real Madrid to the Parc des Princes in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie, it comes at an inopportune time.
Emery on Neymar: "If I had to pick my Real Madrid side now, I would say that Neymar could feature. The 1st look says it is a sprain. There will be further tests to be totally sure. We are optimistic." #PSGOM #LeClassique
— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) February 25, 2018
On the latest episode of PSG Small Talk, host Marc Damon discusses the win over OM, Neymar’s injury and more but in a slightly different way. This edition is the first ever simulcast, meaning the first 25 minutes or so is live on Periscope (see below) and the remaining 20 minutes (the podcast version) features Damon and fellow PSG Talk contributor Eduardo Razo discussing topics that didn’t make the live show.
— Marc Damon (@MarcDamon1) February 25, 2018
One of the topics that didn’t make the live edition is the refereeing. Several Marseille players could and probably should have seen red with Lucas Ocampos the most deserving after he racked his studs across Dani Alves’ leg in a gruesome challenge. The match was riddled with yellow cards and you definitely got the sense that the official wanted to keep OM in the match for as long as possible instead of dismissing one of their key players.
Other than the injury, PSG got exactly what they wanted out of this match. The PSG Ultras were unbelievable from when the players walked out of the tunnel until the final whistle. The team clearly fed off of that energy and it’s something that will work in their favor when they host Madrid, with or without Neymar. Towards the end of the podcast, Damon encourages PSG supporters to remain positive. Razo reminds us that without Neymar, this team defeated FC Barcelona 4-0 at the Parc. Remain positive and check back often for more updates on Neymar and coverage of PSG’s next match against Marseille on Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France.
If you would like to send in a question or topic for discussion, email PSGSmallTalk@gmail.com and we may read it on the next podcast. As always, thank you for your support and please subscribe (iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher) and leave a review.
thiago silva was “OKAY”??? end of the line??? wow he can never do anything right. what u guys have against him? french paper gave him the highest note and he was “okay”? admit it, he was THE motm. lmao i’m done with this. psg fans don’t deserve him at all. the reason thiago is not a starter at the NT is because he was injured when Tite made his first call-up, if not he would’ve been Tite’s first option, he said so himself, and since marquinhos and miranda delivered, he thought it wasn’t fair to take one of them out of the starting team, which i respect. what i don’t respect is what emery did by taking him – the CAPTAIN of the team, a fit player – out of the most important match of the season because of his so called “tactics”.