PSG and OSC Lille fought a gripping duel in which the decision was only made in injury time. The encounter is overshadowed by Neymar’s injury.
What a crazy game! Paris Saint-Germain won 4-3 (2-1) against OSC Lille in a wild game, ending the negative trend of three consecutive defeats across all competitions.
Both teams fought a gripping duel in which Lille turned a quick 0-2 deficit into a 3-2, only to lose in added time to a remarkable free-kick from Lionel Messi (90+5).
But the Parisians’ victory was marred by a shock scene, because PSG fears for superstar Neymar. The Brazilian had to leave the game after just 51 minutes.
Neymar has to leave injured
After a duel in midfield with Benjamin André, his right foot hit the ground and twisted badly. Neymar stayed down and immediately grabbed his ankle. The team doctors rushed onto the field to treat him.
After initially wanting to continue playing, he realized that this made no sense. He was taken away on a stretcher.
The forward made his second injury substitution after Nuno Mendes had to be substituted after 31 minutes.
“He’s sprained his right ankle. He’s being examined to determine the severity,” said coach Christophe Galtier after the game.
In around two and a half weeks (March 8th), PSG will play Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. The use of the superstar is therefore badly endangered.
Penalty vortex at PSG
For PSG, it was initially made to measure. Kylian Mbappé had put his team in front thanks to a strong solo (11th), before Neymar increased to 2-0 six minutes later.
The home side then let the reins loosen a bit, so that Bafode Diakité (24′) was able to head the ball back after a free kick.
After the Neymar injury, Lille turned up the heat. Jonathan David (58th) equalized the game with a converted penalty. Marco Verratti had held Tiago Djalo slightly by the jersey, causing him to fall.
However, the penalty whistle was heavily criticized by PSG. Coach Christophe Galtier was so upset that he even ran onto the pitch to have the referee take a look at the situation again on the screen – which Willy Delajod didn’t do, however.
Messi and Mbappé ensure PSG victory
The momentum was now with the guests, who finally turned the game upside down with a counterattack by Jonathan Bamba (69th).
This gameplay even resulted in PSG technical director Luis Campos leaving his seat in the stands and yelling at the players from the sidelines, according to consistent reports.
These words apparently had an effect, because Paris launched furious attacks. In the 87th minute it was Mbappé who equalized from a Juan Bernat cross.
Messi then finally shook the Parc des Princes with his free-kick goal from almost 18 meters.
VIDEO: Paris Saint-Germain: Neymar’s party causes frustration
