Neymar all set for home debut as PSG face Toulouse
PARIS: After dazzling on his first appearance in a Paris St Germain shirt, Neymar is in line to make his home debut for his new club against Toulouse tomorrow.
The world’s most expensive player scored one goal and set up another in a starring performance as PSG beat Guingamp 3-0 away in Brittany last weekend to maintain their perfect start to the new French season.
The US$261mil (RM1.19bil) signing from Barcelona has already taken to the pitch at PSG’s Parc des Princes for an unveiling before their 2-0 win over Amiens there on the opening day of the campaign.
But he was not registered in time to play in that match so PSG’s home support are eager to watch the 25-year-old run out tomorrow.
In contrast, the opposition coach is rather more apprehensive.
“We are going to Paris to defend first of all, that is for sure. We will park the bus,” said Pascal Dupraz, whose team did beat PSG at home and drew away last season en route to a mid-table finish.
“I believe in the possibility of getting a result in Paris. That is the beauty of football too. If I didn’t believe then I might as well to do something else.”
Dupraz, who has this week brought in Ivory Coast winger MaxAlain Gradel on loan from English side Bournemouth, is expected to field the player for the tie.
“But be careful not to call this game Toulouse against Neymar! PSG will win the league and once again go far in Europe,” he said.
PSG have been busy trying to reduce their wage bill following the Neymar signing, and have loaned unwanted Spanish forward Jese to English side Stoke while agreeing to sell France midfielder Blaise Matuidi to Juventus for ¤20mil (RM100mil).
Meanwhile, they are apparently ready to pay another blockbuster fee of ¤180mil (RM907mil) to sign Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe.
The 18-year-old striker, who hails from the Paris suburbs, is keen on the move and while Monaco would prefer him to go to Real Madrid, the French champions have left him out of their squad to face Metz.
The decision to drop Mbappe came after he was left on the bench for the duration of last weekend’s 4-1 win at Dijon, in which Radamel Falcao scored a hat-trick.
“The philosophy at Monaco is to play those who are at 100% and totally available to the squad,” said coach Leonardo Jardim.
Lyon are top of the standings on goal difference and they will look to make it three wins from three when they host Bordeaux today.
Also on maximum points are St Etienne, who host Amiens, and Marseille, whose home clash with Angers comes in between the two legs of their Europa League play-off against Domzale of Slovenia.
It has been a difficult start to the season for last season’s third-placed side Nice. They lost their opening two league outings and then went down 2-0 away to Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League playoff on Wednesday.
They need a lift when they entertain Guingamp today and star duo Mario Balotelli and Wesley Sneijder are expected to be back after recovering from injuries. — AFP