MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 15:18:27| >> :600:221374:221374:
[monks data]
Attendance: 47,511
PSG logo
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 19
Dec 22, 2018 at 8pm UK
 
Nantes

1-0

Mbappe (68')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Neymar absent as Paris St Germain look to finish year on a high

The Ligue 1 leaders are 10 points clear of second-placed Lille and also boast two games in hand.

Paris St Germain coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Neymar was given permission to return to Brazil to recover after playing with a groin injury in the Champions League.

Neymar was among the scorers in the 4-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade on December 11 and was able to finish the game, but Tuchel has revealed that he was already carrying a knock.

The world's most expensive player subsequently returned home to Brazil for his rehabilitation and will miss Saturday's Ligue 1 clash with Nantes.

"Neymar has travelled to Brazil with my permission," Tuchel told a press conference, as reported by the French media.

"He was injured when he played against Belgrade and is still injured now. We were happy to see after the game that things were not any worse.

"He wants to play every match but we have to be intelligent and not take any risks with this injury. Now he can make the most of two weeks of holidays. It's necessary, so we gave permission for him to return to Brazil.

"If it was a final or the last game of the season then it would have been a different decision."

Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria is a doubt for the return to Ligue 1 action and will be subject to a fitness test.

"Angel has been playing with some pain for two weeks. We'll know more after training. Do we take the risk with him now or do we give him a rest?" Tuchel said.

"It's similar to what's happening with Neymar. He has been playing through the pain fro two weeks.  We'll discuss it and then take a decision."

"There's a bit of physical and mental fatigue in the squad. But we are professionals, we have to adapt."

PSG's Ligue 1 campaign has been affected by postponements caused by the civil unrest in France and after two draws in their previous outings, Tuchel is targeting victory.

"We absolutely want to win this last match of the year. Me, the team, everyone wants to win the match. It would be perfect to close out this half year that way," he said.

"It's a big challenge because Nantes have a new coach with a lot of experience. They are a very courageous team.

"They've had cancelled matches as well, so have been had a similar problem to us. I'm confident that we'll be ready for the game. It's difficult to in win, but it's our objective."

Nantes are in mid-table but coach Vahid Halilhodzic is still targeting a win against the unbeaten league leaders.

"We're going to Paris trying to do something. After that, will we succeed? That's another question," Halilhodzic said.

"Everything is possible from the moment you want it, but you still have to do things for it."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '951149df-20d4-4f42-ac92-b1a56ea183b5');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Neymar absent as Paris St Germain look to finish year on a high'});

ID:344863: cacheID:344863:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5348:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Kylian Mbappe celebrates his late goal during the Champions League group game between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain on September 18, 2018
Read Next:
How PSG could line up against Bordeaux
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG108202982126
2Marseille1062223121120
3MonacoMonaco10622157820
4Lille10532169718
5Nice104421991016
6Lyon104331715215
7Lens1035297214
8Reims104241615114
9StrasbourgStrasbourg103431919013
10Auxerre104151718-113
11Brest104151316-313
12Toulouse103341111012
13Rennes103251316-311
14NantesNantes102441214-210
15Angers102441116-510
16Saint-EtienneSt Etienne103161024-1410
17Le HavreLe Havre10307820-129
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier10118830-224


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!