Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash with Real Madrid is just around the corner, as the two powerhouse clubs will meet in the opening leg of the tie on Feb. 15.
For now, there is still uncertainty on whether Neymar will be available for the match, as he has been sidelined due to the ankle injury suffered during PSG’s Ligue 1 fixture against AS Saint-Etienne.
Still, for former French national team manager Raymond Domenech, he sees that Neymar not only has what it takes to be fully fit for the tie but can also exert a keen influence against the La Liga side, which he explained further to L’Equipe.
“He is so strong, he can make the difference even on small bits of the game,” Domenech said. “I think that he will be so eager to play and he will prepare so much for this clash, that he will be there.
“In anticipation of Real, we have to keep him warm. We have to build up the tension little by little. He must not arrive too quickly, he must be ready just for this game.”
Neymar has had previous success against Real Madrid, which includes multiple such standout performances alongside Lionel Messi during their run together at Barcelona.
PSG is aiming to pull off another deep run in the Champions League competition.
