PSG and its supporters will take stock of the exercise of their Brazilian genius at the end of the 38th day, but the conclusions are already hardly in doubt: they will have a frustrating taste of unfinished business.

Because the N.10 spread its best palette between the 30th and 32nd day of the French Championship … mid-April, well after the most anticipated meetings by the capital club and its fans.

Blame it obviously on the injuries and this bad sprain in the left ankle which left him on the floor between the beginning of December and mid-February.

This period of time was enough for PSG to be eliminated from the Coupe de France and the Champions League, despite the recovery of the Brazilian at the end of the return match at Real Madrid (1-3, go 1-0) in eighth of final.

PSG star Neymar in the fight with the Marseillais Pol Lirola and William Saliba, April 17, 2022 at the Parc des Princes Thomas COEX AFP

If Kylian Mbappé survived during the absence of "Ney", the supporters will not be able to help but imagine what the association would have given with the second in full possession of his means from the spring.

Because on Sunday evening, for the classic Ligue 1, the last really important game in PSG's gloomy season, Neymar took out his attire for the big nights, between raw talent and shots of rage.

awesome goal

His evening started with a frank hug with Pedro Miguel Pauleta, the adored former striker of the kop who came to kick off.

It continued in the Marseille area, with a flash of genius of which he has the secret, to volley, with the end of the left foot, a long ball sent by Marco Verratti (12th).

Opposite, Valentin Rongier and Pau Lopez saw everything too late and the ball ended its course in the net... The "Ney" had already left to celebrate, not far from the turn of the ultras, the very people who whistled at him these last weeks.

Sunday evening, the hesitations of the hardest fans towards the irregularity of the Brazilian were quickly overwhelmed by the cheers of a Parc des Princes necessarily impressed by the gesture of the 30-year-old star.

The most reluctant did not take long to be called to order.

The Neymar recital was indeed prolonged, on a free kick diverted by Lopez (34th) first, on a few bright combinations with Mbappé (38th) or Messi then, then on a penalty caused by a strike on the elbow of Rongier (45th) and transformed by Mbappé (45th + 5).

The statistics confirm the impression: Neymar has just scored six goals in three matches, and even seven in four games if we count the goal scored against Chile in qualifying for the World Cup-2022 at the end of March with the Seleçao.

The behavior of the playmaker also has something to talk about.

Involved in all contentious actions, he even went so far as to enrage when the referee gave him a yellow card for an excess of commitment on Mattéo Guendouzi (55th).

Incorrigible personality or sign of an energy still intact?

The last days will say a little more about the desires of the player under contract until 2025, before the restless summer which will open in Paris...

© 2022 AFP