Can Paris Saint Germain progress in the Champions League without Neymar?
Paris Saint Germain is one of the biggest clubs in world football, and they have made it to the Champions League semifinals in each of the past two seasons. However, this season has been a bit different for them. One of their key players, Neymar, has been out with an injury for most of the season. Without him, PSG has struggled to score goals and maintain their place at the top of Ligue 1. So far this postseason, they’ve faced off against Ajax and Liverpool and lost both matches. Can they progress in the Champions League without Neymar? Let’s take a look at their history in the competition to see if they can make it through without their star player.
Neymar’s Absence from PSG
Due to his transfer to Barcelona, Neymar is currently out of contract with PSG and is not eligible to play in the Champions League this season. This has caused some doubts about whether or not PSG can progress in the tournament without their star player. However, there are a number of other players who can step up and help lead PSG to victory.
First, midfielders Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratti are both capable of distributing the ball well and creating chances for teammates. The duo also has experience playing in big matches, having played in last year’s Champions League final. In addition, defender Thiago Silva is a veteran of the Champions League and has contributed heavily in past editions of the tournament. These three players will need to be on their game if PSG wants to make it past Group C and into the knockout stages.
However, Neymar’s absence will still be felt by PSG. The Brazilian was one of the club’s most important players during its successful Ligue 1 campaign last season, scoring 25 goals in all competitions. Without him, PSG may struggle to replicate that success domestically this season. Additionally, Neymar was key in helping PSG win back-to-back French championships in 2014 and 2015. Although they may still be able to win the title this year without him, it will likely be much harder than it would have been had he stayed with the club.
Neymar’s Status With PSG
Neymar has been a key player for PSG in recent years, but his future at the club is uncertain. With Neymar potentially wanting to move to Spain or other European clubs, PSG may struggle to progress in the Champions League this season. They currently sit in 5th place in Group C with 3 points, but can still qualify if they win their remaining two games and Barcelona lose either of their two games. However, without Neymar, PSG may struggle to score against weaker teams and could be eliminated early on.
What PSG Can Do Without Neymar
With Neymar sidelined through injury, Paris Saint Germain faces a tricky task in progressing in the Champions League without their superstar. The Brazilian attacker has been one of the club’s key players over the past few seasons, scoring 41 goals in all competitions. However, PSG will need to rely on other players to step up and fill the void left by Neymar.
One player who could potentially take on a bigger role is Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan striker has scored 33 goals in all competitions this season, including 11 in La Liga as PSG sits top of the table. Additionally, Angel Di Maria could also be called upon more as Neymar’s replacement – he has already made 10 appearances this season and scored one goal.
Despite their challenges, Paris Saint Germain has still managed to win six out of their last seven matches in Ligue 1 without Neymar. With their current form, it is likely that they will continue to progress regardless of whether or not Neymar features for them during the remainder of the Champions League campaign.
The Champions League
Paris Saint Germain is one of the most decorated club sides in Europe, having won a total of 24 trophies including 11 Ligue 1 titles and 6 Coupe de France titles. However, their recent Champions League campaign has been plagued with inconsistency, with Neymar’s absence arguably playing a major role.
PSG reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season before being eliminated by eventual champions Real Madrid. This season, despite starting the competition well with successive wins over Porto and Borussia Dortmund, they have since lost three games in a row – against Atletico Madrid, Valencia, and Lyon – leaving them four points behind leaders Liverpool in Group A. Neymar’s return to form is crucial if PSG are to progress past Basel, Liverpool, and Barcelona in their group.
In Neymar’s absence this season, Dani Alves has played an important role for PSG. The Brazilian is an experienced player with great technical ability who can create chances for his teammates. Additionally, Adrien Rabiot has also performed solidly at midfield for Paris Saint Germain this season. These two players may not be as headline-grabbing as Neymar but they are vitally important members of PSG’s squad and will need to continue performing if the club are to progress in the Champions League this season.”
Neymar’s Future At Paris Saint Germain
Paris Saint Germain is likely to sell Neymar this summer as the Brazilian’s €222 million release clause is about to expire. The Ligue 1 giants have been linked with a move for Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho and Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, but former Barcelona and Brazil striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is thought to be their top priority. PSG are in last place in Ligue 1, but they reached the Champions League semi-finals last season and could easily progress this time around if they can replace Neymar with a big-name player.
Ibrahimovic has already stated that he would like to return to Paris Saint Germain should the opportunity arise, but it is not clear whether or not the Swede would be a good replacement for Neymar. Ibrahimovic is 37 years old and has played regularly in France only since joining Marseille in 2016. He has scored 54 goals in 108 appearances for Marseille and Lyon, but his record in Europe is poor – he has scored just six goals in 27 appearances for PSG.
Neymar’s Role In The Champions League
In the 2017-2018 Champions League, there was an obvious difference in performance between PSG and their opponents. Neymar led the way with 11 goals in just six matches played, averaging a goal every 120 minutes. However, his impact has diminished in the knockout stage due to injuries. Without Neymar’s scoring touch, it is uncertain if PSG can keep up with their competitors.
Neymar had a hand in all of PSG’s Champions League wins last season. He bagged two goals in each of their 4-0 and 5-1 home victories over Lille and Lyon respectively. If he is able to stay fit for the entirety of the tournament, his influence will be crucial for Les Parisiens as they attempt to reach the final for the third consecutive year.
Without Neymar on the field, it will be difficult for PSG to score against top teams. Although he is not as strong defensively as he once was, his attacking prowess is impossible to replace. In order for Les Parisiens to compete in Europe’s top club competition without their star player, they will need other players step up and provide support offensively. Nemanja Matic and Kylian Mbappe are key players who need to produce consistent performances if PSG are going to advance past the group stages this year.
PSG’s Possible Progress Without Neymar
In the past few seasons, Neymar has been an integral part of PSG’s success in the Champions League. The Brazil international has helped the club make it to the semifinals each time he has participated in the tournament, including last season when they made it all the way to the final before losing to Liverpool.
However, reports have suggested that Neymar is unhappy at PSG and may be looking to leave in search of new opportunities. If this is true, thenPSG’s progress without Neymar could be difficult. Even without their star player, PSG are still one of Europe’s most successful clubs and should be able to make it far in European competition without him. However, it would not be an easy road and they will likely miss his creativity on the pitch.
If Neymar does leave Paris Saint Germain, then there are a number of potential replacements that could be brought in. Among them are Kylian Mbappe and Eden Hazard, both of whom would undoubtedly improve PSG’s squad significantly. However, whether or not either player would want to move from their current clubs remains to be seen.
Conclusion
Since Neymar’s world-record transfer to Paris Saint Germain, there has been much speculation as to whether or not the Ligue 1 champions can progress in the Champions League without their reported ” instrumental ” player. However, given PSG’s impressive signing of Kylian Mbappe and the addition of midfield reinforcements such as Julian Draxler, it seems that coach Unai Emery is well equipped to challenge for honours in Europe’s top club competition. While Neymar may be a crucial part of PSG’s overall success, his absence will not derail the team completely.
