Neymar limped off injured as French Cup holder Paris Saint-Germain held on for a 1-0 win at second-tier Caen in the round of 64 on Wednesday, courtesy of Moise Kean’s goal in the second half.
The 29-year-old Brazilian striker could miss his side round of 16 first leg tie of the UEFA Champions League against Barcelona in the coming week.
However, the extent of the injury has not been revealed just yet but the Ligue 1 Champions would be hoping to have their striker back, who has already missed several key fixtures in this campaign.
After the match, Kean played down fears over Neymar’s injury, saying: “All is well, he is ready. Tomorrow, in training, he will recuperate. He will be ready for the match [against Barcelona].”
PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said after the game that Neymar had injured his adductor muscle.
It is bad news for Pochettino with PSG playing Barcelona — Neymar’s former club — next week in the first leg of the Champions League’s round of 16.
“It’s difficult to say right now if he will be available against Barcelona. We’ll see tomorrow (Thursday) with the doctor,” Pochettino said. “It’s difficult to talk about his condition without having more information.”
PSG is already sweating on the fitness of winger Angel Di Maria, who injured his thigh last Sunday against Marseille – with Neymar also ruled out spells great danger for the French club.
It is not the first time Neymar’s health has taken centre-stage ahead of a key European knockout match.
In the 2017-18 season, his first since completing a world-record transfer from Barca, the striker fractured a metatarsal bone and missed the last three months of the season, during which time PSG bombed out of the Champions League last 16 at the hands of Real Madrid.
In January 2019, Neymar suffered almost a similar fate, and could only look on as the French side were bundled out by Manchester United at the same stage.
