Neymar on the spot as Lyon await PSG
PARIS: Lyon will look to inject fresh life into the Ligue 1 title race at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday when the focus will once again fall on world record signing Neymar.
The Brazilian scored four times in Wednesday’s 8- 0 rout of Dijon but was whistled by his own fans after taking a late penalty and denying Edinson Cavani the chance to break Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s alltime PSG goals record.
“If he’d given it to ( Cavani) it would have been a nice gesture. Now if it’s just a question of the record... if it’s not (on Wednesday), it will be on Sunday. He will smash the record,” said PSG defender Thomas Meunier of Cavani’s history-making aspirations.
“I don’t think you should linger over these types of details,” added the Belgium international.
“He (Neymar) was the one who was supposed to take it. In reality he just did what he should have done.”
While PSG registered a record home win, Cavani notched his 156th goal for the club to draw level with the record set by Ibrahimovic over four seasons in the French capital.
A section of supporters jeered when the Uruguayan wasn’t presented the opportunity by Neymar to eclipse that mark, and Meunier admitted he found that reaction disappointing.
“When you score four goals, provide two assists and everything you bring to the team, to be whistled just for a penalty, I think that’s a bit ungrateful from the supporters,” Meunier said.
Nevertheless, the result kept Unai Emery’s team 11 points clear of second-place Lyon, who will rely on more inspiration from captain Nabil Fekir as they chase a sixth league win in seven matches.
Fekir is level on 15 goals with Neymar, trailing only Cavani (20) and Radamel Falcao (16), after netting the opener in a 2- 0 victory at Guingamp.
“Nabi l’s performance was extraordinary,” Lyon coach Bruno Genesio said afterwards. “He’s been on a roll since the start of the season. He’s at an international level and doing it consistently.” — AFP