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The former Barcelona superstar’s hat-trick in PSG’s 5-1 win over the Turks when the match restarted a day later included two goals that were simply out of this world.
Neymar had previously scored the winning goal against RB Leipzig and a double in the 3-1 win over Manchester United and his goals allowed the French champion to finish atop an awkward Champions League group.
He explained that the decision to walk away in protest at the alleged use of a racist term by one of the Romanian referees was something that “had to be done to see if the world can change a bit.” The images of him kneeling with a clenched fist raised in support of the Black Lives Matter movement were powerful.
PSG fans would also have been encouraged to hear the 28-year-old emphasize that he is happy in Paris, a week after making headlines by admitting he wanted to be in the same team as Lionel Messi next season.
“I’m very happy here in Paris, at the club, with my teammates, so the idea of leaving doesn’t cross my mind, but people need things to talk about,” he told RMC Sport radio.
“I’m very happy and calm, so let’s see what happens in the future.”
Like Kylian Mbappé, who recently scored his 100th goal for PSG, Neymar’s contract runs until 2022, but PSG is hopeful that the duo will sign new terms.
“We have started talking. Everything is confidential, but we are confident, they both want to stay,” PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said.
Mbappé and Neymar, who has scored or established 65 goals in 65 Champions League games, will lead PSG to a top-of-the-table Ligue 1 clash at home to Lyon in form on Sunday.
The defending champions are the best, but the five teams below them are five points behind, with Lyon two points behind the leaders.
Player to watch: Angel di Maria
Forget Neymar and Mbappé, Di Maria was PSG’s best player in the last shortened French season. In fact, he has probably been his best performer since the two most expensive signings in history arrived in August 2017.
However, the Argentine has lost his place in recent weeks. Their only start in PSG’s last four games was when PSG fielded a second-row XI in Montpellier. In the victory at Manchester United not only did he not enter, he was at one point stripped for action only to be sent back to his seat.
Out of contract at the end of this season, a situation that has put the 32-year-old’s future in the spotlight, Di Maria will await a recall against Lyon.
Key stats
5 – Marseille have won their last five Ligue 1 games. Four points behind leaders PSG are on track to top the table if they win their two remaining games, but will face a tough test against Monaco Saturday.
13 – After finishing 13th last season, Nantes this week parted ways with manager Christian Gourcuff and the Canaries took just 13 points from their first 13 games this season. The eight-time French champion became the fourth club to change managers this season. One of the others, bottom Dijon, is his rival this weekend.
10 – Lyon are undefeated in 10 games as they seek their first win at the Parc des Princes since 2007.
Matches (Kick-offs GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne vs. Angers (2000)
Saturday
Marseille v Monaco (1600), Lens v Montpellier (2000)
Sunday
Nice against Rennes (1200), Brest against Reims, Lorient against Nimes, Nantes against Dijon, Strasbourg against Metz (all 1400), Lille against Bordeaux (1600), Paris Saint-Germain against Lyon (2000)
as / gj
