Nightmare For Neymar, As He Is Ruled Out Of PSG's Crucial Champions League Clash Against Bayern Munich With Ankle Injury.
Neymar will miss Paris St-Germain's Champions League round of 16 second leg at Bayern Munich due to injury.
The Brazilian star, left the pitch in tears as he was carried away on a stretcher with an injured right ankle during PSG's thrilling 4-3 home win over Lille on 19 February, with scans subsequently revealing he had suffered ankle ligament damage.
PSG manager Christophe Galtier confirmed that the ligament damage will keep the 31-year-old South American out of his plans for upcoming games with Nantes and Bayern.
The Ligue 1 title holders, will also be missing midfielder Renato Sanches and defender Presnel Kimpembe through injury when they host Nantes in the French top flight on Saturday.
Nantes have won two of their last four league games against the Parisians, and will surely provide a stern test.
"We will not have Neymar available for the next two games," Galtier said on Friday, calling it a "big loss".
"With the absence of Neymar, Instead of having two midfielders, we will have three midfielders and two attackers.
However, Galtier dismissed suggestions PSG were a more balanced side with Neymar sidelined, saying: "Our block is much more compact, denser.
"To tell you that Neymar’s absence is trivial… no. It’s a detrimental absence for us."
Neymar is set to undergo further medical tests on Monday, that's two days before PSG’s trip to Germany, and he will not be involved in the encounter.
PSG needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit after losing the first leg at the Parc des Princes on 14 February, with the goal scored by Kingsley Coman, will now instead look to Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi to deliver moments of game-changing brilliance for them against the Bundesliga champions at the Allianz Arena.
While the Bayern clash could define PSG's campaign this season, Galtier also insist that the game against Nantes is equally important;
“The most important game is the one that’s coming. Our squad is weakened by suspensions and injuries, we have to make our way in the league,” he said.
“I hope the players don’t have the game against Bayern on Wednesday in a corner of their heads. It’s important to have a third consecutive victory in the league.”
Neymar’s absence was not felt as PSG thrashed Marsielle 3-0 last Sunday to move the Ligue 1 leaders eight points clear at the top of the table.
Mbappe and Messi starred in that game, and while Mbappe scored twice in 22nd and 55th minutes, Messi scored in-between in the 29th minute.
That win saw Mbappe move level with PSG’s all-time record scorer Edinson Cavani with 200 goals for the club, while Messi claimed the 700th senior goal of his club career.
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