- Zinedine Zidane has said he wants Neymar to be available against Real Madrid for the Champions League knock out return leg
- Neymar sprained his ankle in Paris Saint Germains 3-0 win at Marseille over the weekend in a Ligue 1 match
- Real Madrid will be up against Espanyol in an outstanding La Liga fixture before facing PSG the following week
Zinedine Zidane insists he will be hoping Neymar becomes fit to face Real Madrid in the second leg Champions League match in Parc des Prince.
The Brazilian star posted a picture of his heavily bandaged ankle on Instagram earlier on Monday, February 26, having left the field in tears and on a stretcher during PSG’s 3-0 win over Marseille at the weekend.
With just eight days away from the match, the Paris side’s task of overturning a 3-1 deficit would be much more difficult without Neymar on their side.
Neymar's falls to the ground in agony/Photo Credit: The Eagle
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However, Zidane doesn’t think Neymar’s absence would affect PSG's team, though hopes that he makes it onto the pitch.
“I don’t think it influences the game,” he said at his pre-match press conference for the Espanyol encounter.
“But I hope he can play, I will never want a rival player to be injured.”
Real have currently hit their best form for the first time this season, winning five games in a row in all competitions.
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Retaining the La Liga title is technically not achievable as they are 14 points behind their fierce rivals, Barcelona.
Star player, Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the factors for Real's best form so far this season, and has scored seven goals in his last four games including his 300th La Liga goals.
“He knows himself very well and we talk because it’s very important to have Cristiano always at his best,” Zidane added.
“He knows that sometimes he has to rest because the season is very long, at the end of the year there is a World Cup.”
A win at Espanyol on Tuesday would boost their morale ahead of the Champions League clash with PSG.
Zidane's men showed more character in the 4-0 win at home to Alaves over the weekend after the re-awakening of Benzema, Bale, and Ronaldo (BBC) who were all scored in the same match.
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Source: Sports.naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Tuesday, 27 February 2018