Neymar, Mbappe are hit by injuries
Paris, Nov. 21: Paris Saint-Germain were anxiously waiting on Wednesday for the results of scans on injuries to Neymar and Kylian Mbappe just days before their crucial Champions League clash with Liverpool.
Neymar limped off after eight minutes of Brazil’s 10 friendly win against Cameroon on Wednesday.
The Brazilian forward was treated for an apparent groin problem after five minutes and collapsed to the turf soon afterwards to boos from the crowd in the English town of Milton Keynes.
In Paris, Mbappe hurt his shoulder in a nasty fall as World Cup winners France ended their year on a high note with a 1-0 win over Uruguay at the Stade de France.
But the victory was overshadowed when Mbappe was hurt after falling awkwardly as he challenged the diving Uruguay goalkeeper Martin Campana for the ball. France coach Didier Des-champs said the news on the 19-year-old forward who shot to global prominence at the World Cup, was “not necessarily reassuring, but not worrying either.
Neymar played down his injury, saying in an Instagram message that “it was nothing serious”.
Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar also said it did not appear to be a serious problem. “He felt discomfort. He will need a bit more time to evaluate it and take a scan, but in principle it is not a serious injury,” Lasmar said.
PSG coach Thomas Tuchel will be hoping that both of his star players are fit to play when they host Liverpool in Paris on Thursday with both sides chasing qualification for the knockout phase of the Champions League.
PSG sit third in Group ‘C’, one point behind Liverpool who are equal on points with first-placed Napoli. — AFP