PSG gears up for blockbuster match against Real Madrid
As Paris Saint Germain prepared on Tuesday for its blockbuster Champions League match against Real Madrid, much of the media attention has focused on whether its most prized asset Neymar will eventually make a sensational move to the Spanish club.
The two clubs will meet for the last16, first-leg tie at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Neymar was the most expensive player of all time last August when PSG signed him from Barcelona for 222 million euros ($272.1 million), although Real has coveted the forward since he was 13 years old.
Real president Florentino Perez recently said his side tried to sign Neymar before he joined rival Barca in 2013, and reiterated his desire to bring the Brazilian to Madrid.
Neymar has scored a remarkable 28 goals in 27 games in all competitions for the runaway Ligue 1 leader, although he has not always cut a happy figure in Paris.
His furious dispute with strike partner Edinson Cavani in September over the right to take set pieces reared its head again last month when the Brazilian refused to allow the Uruguayan to take a penalty against Dijon that would have made him the club’s all-time top scorer.
Real coach Zinedine Zidane’s future could depend on a good result against PSG and the coach was relieved to see Cristiano Ronaldo hit his best form against Real Sociedad over the weekend in La Liga.
The Portuguese forward scored a hattrick to reach seven league goals in his last four matches, turning his form around after a troubled start to the season.
Ronaldo netted four goals in his first 14 league matches, his poor form one of the reasons Barcelona was able to leave Madrid in the wake during the first half of the season.
“We are happy with Ronaldo,” Zidane told reporters. “On Friday they asked me if I was worried about him not scoring goals and he scored three.”
Last season Ronaldo converted into a center-forward in a classic No. 9 mold from his previous role as a winger, helping the side retain the Champions League by scoring crucial hat-tricks against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid as well as a brace in the final against Juventus.
Karius credits consistency for Liverpool resurgence
Meanwhile, Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius believes his consistent presence in the starting lineup during recent Premier League games has spurred his team’s resurgence.
Karius and Simon Mignolet have battled to be Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper under manager Juergen Klopp, but inconsistent performances by both shot-stoppers led the German boss to rotate them constantly.
Karius has started the club’s last five league games, helping Liverpool notch three wins and keeping two clean sheets in the process.
“I am feeling good and getting consistent game time helps a lot,” said the 24-year-old. “In the last few games I have had more stuff to do and I have been able to make some saves, which gives you more confidence.
Liverpool travels to Porto in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday and Karius, who is likely to start the match, is keen for the Merseyside club to take control.
“Having the second game at home can be a real advantage for us,” Karius said. “But for it to be an advantage we need to put ourselves in a good position in the tie.” (Reuters)