PSG remain unbeaten after 11 games following a gritty, hard-fought victory over rivals Marseille in ‘Le Classique’.
The Parisians edged the contest thanks to a single goal from Neymar, who stroked home a delicious side-foot finish just before the break.
In another dazzling display from the Brazilian, he has now equalled his tally from last season and looks to be back to his world-beating best.
With the World Cup on the horizon, he is hitting his stride at the perfect moment having notched in 12 goals and registered nine assists so far in all competitions. Neymar and his fellow compatriots are current 4/1 to favourites in football betting to clinch a sixth World Cup.
It was nearly a very different end to the evening for the match-winner however, as Marseille’s Samuel Gigot was shown a straight-red card for a wild studs-up challenge on the 30-year-old.
Wild, reckless, needless!
Awful challenge on Neymar that could only end in a red and scenes like this.
Just. No. Need 🙅♂️ pic.twitter.com/qT1jYCusg8
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 16, 2022
Although slow-motion replays actually reveal very little contact, there is no denying had Neymar not attempted to leap over the oncoming challenge the aftermath may well have been very different.
Having been plagued by injuries since making the switch the French capital in 2017, it could have been another devastating setback amid the mercurial Brazilian putting up strong numbers and the World Cup fast approaching next month.
It is certainly no surprise to see challenges of this ferocity being inflicted on the Ligue 1 top scorer; he is the most fouled player in world football according to several statistic websites. His uncanny ability to lure opposition players in and then beat them with ease normally translates to a build-up of frustration.
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