Paris (AFP)

Lionel Messi absent and Kylian Mbappé inside, Paris Saint-Germain can count on Neymar and his magic tricks to continue his perfect accounting start in Ligue 1, Saturday (9:00 p.m.) against Montpellier for the 8th day.

"+ Ney + is one of those creative players, whom everyone expects magic from each ball they touch," replied his coach Mauricio Pochettino when it was pointed out to him that his N.10 is still irregular.

After twenty very good first minutes in Metz on Wednesday, he disappeared a bit ... to appear at the last second and give Achraf Hakimi an assist to win (2-1).

The joy of the Brazilian striker Neymar, after his assist to the Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi, author of the goal of the victory of Paris Saint-Germain, 2-1 against Metz, in their Ligue 1 match, September 22, 2021 at the Stade Saint-Symphorien SEBASTIEN BOZON AFP

"He plays every three days with this expectation, the spectators hope for the gesture of the year", continues the Argentinian technician.

But the Brazilian "does an enormous job," said Pochettino, who said he was "very happy with his performance, his attitude, his mentality".

For the former Parisian captain Eric Rabesandratana, Neymar "has done good things, he is progressing, it bodes well for Manchester City, the real test!"

in the Champions League, Tuesday at the Parc des Princes.

After a very discreet recovery in Reims (2-0 victory), where Messi had replaced him for the last half hour, "Ney" left to shine with Brazil in qualifying for the World Cup and has since gained strength.

"It was more messy against Metz," continues "Rabé", consultant on France Bleu Paris, "but I retain his performance against Lyon (2-1 victory), especially the acceleration he places, even if it is not always successful because it is not yet 100%, it loses a little in precision ".

- Increase in power -

The former central defender, now Madagascar coach, finds Neymar "much better in the game, in Metz, he delivers this magnificent pass for Hakimi on the decisive goal".

The joy of the Brazilian striker Neymar, after the victory of Paris Saint-Germain, 2-1 against Metz, during their Ligue 1 match, on September 22, 2021 at the Stade Saint-Symphorien SEBASTIEN BOZON AFP

“At one point, they destabilize you with their technical quality,” sighs Metz coach Frédéric Antonetti.

"He's obviously an extraordinary player," said another former PSG captain, Dominique Bathenay.

"We have to accept that it has little waste. If we only give passes at 3.5m, we do not lose balls, we have good + stats +, but he makes differences in the middle and he creates. It will ramp up. "

Neymar's statistics are not yet breathtaking, a goal from a penalty, which he himself caused, even if the Lyonnais strongly contested, and this "assist" for Hakimi, in four matches.

In Bruges (1-1), in C1, Neymar had not made much difference but was that of the trio "MNM" (with Messi and Mbappé) who had activated the most in the defensive front curtain.

Paris Saint-Germain forwards, Brazilian Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Argentinian Lionel Messi, during the Champions League group match against Bruges, September 15, 2021 at Jan Breydel Stadium KENZO TRIBOUILLARD AFP / Archives

"He spends a lot of energy," Pochettino maintains.

Messi at rest forced due to a blow to a knee, Mbappé a little less well for two matches after an alert to a foot, Neymar "assumes his role of boss", assures "Rabé".

As for the trio, "there is complementarity, we find it in the game. In the first half against Lyon, it was already much better, Mbappé was part of the relationship with Messi. It will come, I am not worried about these three, "continues the former Parisian.

In addition, Montpellier is rather a successful team, against which he has lost only once in six games, and has already scored 4 goals.

What to hope for even better for his team, in the nails of the best start in the Championship in its history (14 successes in a row, in 2018/2019).

"It's important to keep improving, and to extend this series," Pochettino said on Friday.

© 2021 AFP