PSG sweat over Neymar injury ahead of Real Madrid return

Brazilian injured in win over Marseille on Sunday, and with the Champions League last 16, second leg against Real at the Parc des Princes in Paris on March 6 just over a week away it leaves Neymar little time to recover fitness

Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar lies on the pitch after sustaining an injury in the 3-0 win over Marseille. Stephane Mahe / Reuters

Paris Saint-Germain are preparing for a race against the clock to get Neymar ready for their Uefa Champions League match against Real Madrid next week after he suffered an ankle injury against Marseille on Sunday.

The Brazilian superstar was carried off on a stretcher in tears towards the end of PSG's 3-0 victory over their great rivals at the Parc des Princes, having innocuously rolled his right ankle and flopped to the ground in pain.

PSG manager Unai Emery said after the game that early examinations in the dressing room showed Neymar had twisted the ankle.

Le Parisien reported that the 26-year-old forward underwent tests at a hospital just outside Paris in the early hours of Monday which ruled out a "fracture or a serious sprain".

Speaking to French television after Sunday's match, PSG captain Thiago Silva said: "I'm not a doctor, but I don't think he'll be available on Wednesday" when PSG face Marseille again in the French Cup. "He has to rest."

Le Parisien suggested that the world's most expensive player will definitely miss Wednesday's French Cup match with Marseille as well as next Saturday's trip to Troyes in Ligue 1.

The Champions League last 16, second leg against Real at the Parc des Princes in Paris on March 6 is just over a week away, leaving Neymar little time to recover fitness.

"We will be optimistic. If I had to say today [whether or not he will face Real] I would rather say yes to being optimistic," said Emery on Sunday night.

PSG are 14 points clear of Monaco at the top of Ligue 1 after Sunday's game, but the Champions League is crucial to the French club and they lost 3-1 in Madrid in the first leg two weeks ago.

_________________

Read more:

• Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo 'is a player who can cause a great mess to rivals' - Zidane
• Zinedine Zidane lauds Cristiano Ronaldo selflessness after Real Madrid crush Alaves

_________________