Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain and Neymar lose in Dortmund

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

Paris Saint-Germain lost to Dortmund (2-1) in the round of 16 first leg on Tuesday 18 February. Erling Haaland opened the scoring for the German club and the Brazilian Neymar equalized before the young Norwegian prodigy doubled the bet.

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Absent from the quarterfinals for the past three seasons, Paris Saint-Germain moved to Dortmund for the round of 16 first leg. The idea: go home with a result that lives up to your ambitions.

Neymar mute in the first period

Missing the march again for the Parisians would be a stain when we count among its workforce world class players like Neymar or Mbappé. Since the arrival of the Qataris, millions of euros have been spent to afford the prestigious Champions League. And no one can guarantee that the stars of the squad will be there next season. Starting with Neymar, who has only played a single round of 16 match since his arrival in the capital.

" We have no other players with such quality, " said coach Thomas Tuchel on the eve of the game. Suffice to say that it is time for Paris to break the glass ceiling of the eighths. Neymar, recruited against the record sum of 222 million euros in the summer of 2017, could not be there due to injury in the last three eighth finals. But Paris returned from Dortmund with a defeat.

The Brazilian had the opportunity to open the scoring in the 11th minute on a free kick. Except that his coiled ball ends up in Bürki's little net. Paris expects XXL performances from the former Barcelona player, at the height of his emoluments. Neymar, incredible talent, must unlock the situation of a club which has been hoping for a quarter-final for almost four years. But apart from this free kick, the "Ney", aligned from the outset with Angel Di Maria and Kylian Mbappé in an attacking trident, remains silent at Signal Iduna Park for the first forty-five minutes.

"Ney" equalizes in the second half

Neymar, who clearly lacks rhythm, has another opportunity in the 65th minute after a ball repelled by Bürki. Brazilian's shot is off target. While Dormund opened the scoring thanks to the prodigy Erling Haaland (69th), the "Ney" finally came out of the woods to equalize with a flat left foot after a decisive pass from Mbappé (75th). But Erling Haaland knocked out the Parisians two minutes later, with a clear left foot strike at the entrance to the penalty area.

It is rather the combinations, the collective game of Borussia, the intensity in the duels that hurt Parisians during this meeting. To the point of having the possibility of opening the score twice (Sancho in the 14th and in the 27th minute).

Paris Saint-Germain are losing for the first time in the Champions League this season. The curse of the eighth is far from over, despite the presence of the "Ney". The away goal scored by the Brazilian star could be very useful to Parisians in the return match on March 11 at the Parc des Princes.

The defending champion Liverpool was defeated by Atlético Madrid 1-0 at the Wanda-Metropolitano stadium in the knockout stages of the Champions League. The Reds lost to an early goal from Saul Niguez, who propelled a ball dragging into the area (4th), and thereby sealed the victory of Atlético.

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