Paris (AFP)

The Paris SG, less successful outside for several games, moves to Metz Friday (20.45) to reassure L1, but the spirits are still busy with the transfer of the superstar Neymar, whose endless soap opera is close to the end .

The telenovela of the summer, which holds the football planet in suspense for months, has eclipsed the start of the season of PSG, and it is perhaps not worse for coach Thomas Tuchel.

His team has a chaotic start, marked by a defeat on the second day in Rennes (2-1) and a cascade of injuries. This week, the unavailable stars Kylian Mbappé (thigh) and Edinson Cavani (hip) were added to those of Julian Draxler (foot), Ander Herrera (calf) and Thilo Kehrer (foot).

Central defender Abdou Diallo (concussion), who started the Championship as holder, and Neymar, unsurprisingly, will also miss the call, confirmed late afternoon the Swabian coach.

The champion of France advance well in Lorraine with a team well away from his standing. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, mocked for his clumsiness last season but author of a double against Toulouse Sunday (4-0), is expected in the center forward, supported by wingmen Angel di Maria and Pablo Sarabia.

This tinkered attack must provide results, because the PSG needs these points away from the Park, while he lost five of his last six trips in L1.

- "Very exciting" -

This series worthy of a relegation has given hope to his opponents: in a sold-out stadium, with his team profile hair scratch and scorer Habib Diallo fit (3 goals), Metz has everything to believe in the exploit, as did Nantes or Reims before him.

"It motivates us to play this kind of games, it's really exciting," said coach Vincent Hognon.

At home, the Grenats have made a nightmare in Monaco (3-0) but they remain on a big defeat at Angers (3-0) last weekend, which taught them that "the season will be long and that it will still work ", according to the coach.

For Paris too, the season will be long and the last days until Monday, especially. Before the closing of the transfer window, all eyes are on Neymar, for whom negotiations with FC Barcelona have accelerated this week.

As long as his situation is not settled, the superstar will not play, said Tuchel Thursday. To see him play again in the Championship, his fans will have to wait two weeks and the Strasbourg reception for PSG ... or Valencia if he returns to Spain.

© 2019 AFP