BSP-05 Neymar on the mark as PSG up and running under Tuchel

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BSP-05

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Neymar on the mark as PSG up and running under Tuchel

PARIS, Aug 13, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Neymar scored his first goal for Paris
Saint-Germain since February as the French champions kicked off the new Ligue
1 season with a 3-0 defeat of Caen on Sunday.

The Brazilian star, who scored 19 times in 20 league games before
fracturing his foot last season, struck just 10 minutes into his first start
for the club in almost six months.

Adrien Rabiot netted a second for PSG before half-time and Timothy Weah,
the son of 1995 Ballon d’Or winner and Liberia president George Weah, rounded
out the victory with his first league goal.

Gianluigi Buffon also produced a couple of sharp saves on his home bow in
goal for PSG as coach Thomas Tuchel made a winning start at the Parc des
Princes.

“We played a good match with lots of intensity, especially in the first
half. In the second half we managed things a bit more because we’re not yet
at 100%,” PSG captain Thiago Silva told Canal+.

“Some players arrived late (for pre-season) and are not ready, like myself
for example. At the end of the match I had lots of cramps, but well done to
all the team for the match we played today. We’re going to make more
progress.”

German Tuchel, who replaced Unai Emery on a two-year deal, was without a
host of first-team regulars as PSG’s trio of World Cup winners — Kylian
Mbappe, Presnel Kimpembe and Alphonse Areola — showed off the trophy to fans
before kick-off.

Edinson Cavani and Marco Verratti were also absent as Tuchel handed starts
to youngsters Colin Dagba and Stanley N’Soki in defence, and fellow 19-year-
old Antoine Bernede in midfield.

After appearing in a 15-minute cameo at the end of last weekend’s 4-0 rout
of Monaco in the Champions Trophy in China, Neymar made a long-awaited return
to the line-up in Paris.

He needed little time to leave his mark as Caen goalkeeper Brice Samba was
punished for a sloppy pass, with Christopher Nkunku setting Neymar up for a
calm, side-footed finish on his left foot.

Buffon, who was expected to retire at the end of last season before
electing for a new adventure abroad, became the oldest PSG player in Ligue 1
history at 40 years and six months.

The 2006 World Cup winner was called into action for the first time midway
through the opening period when Malik Tchokounte’s firm volley forced Buffon
to punch to safety.

– Buffon bails out Silva –

Angel Di Maria, on target twice in the victory over Monaco, laid the ball
on a plate for Rabiot to add PSG’s second on 35 minutes.

The Argentine winger’s acceleration took him past Alexander Djiku and into
the Caen area where he crossed for a charging Rabiot to tap in from close
range.

Silva was indebted to the quick reflexes of Buffon on the stroke of half-
time when an attempt to head clear a cross left his keeper scrambling to turn
the ball behind.

Stef Peeters had Buffon beaten after the break when his free-kick smacked
against the inside of the post, while a combination of Samba and the woodwork
then denied Weah on 85 minutes.

But the US international pounced on another mistake by Samba a minute from
time, Weah forcing the ball over the line after catching the Caen keeper in
possession.

Earlier, Bertrand Traore and Memphis Depay scored for Lyon in a 2-0 victory
over Amiens.

Burkina Faso forward Traore fired Lyon ahead on 24 minutes when he broke
down the right side of the area and sneaked the ball through the legs of
Amiens goalkeeper Regis Gurtner.

Nabil Fekir, who came on as a substitute in France’s 4-2 win against
Croatia in last month’s World Cup final, was not included in the Lyon squad
having only returned to training on Monday.

Bruno Genesio’s side coped without their captain as Dutch star Depay made
the points safe with a terrific 20-yard free-kick on 75 minutes.

BSS/AFP/MSY/0849 hrs