NEYMAR ABSENT FOR DRAW WITH LYON

Big guns Lionel Messi and Neymar were major absentees for French Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint Germain (PSG) during their league encounter at Lyon on Sunday. Both Neymar and Messi were missing for various reasons as PSG came from a goal down to play out a 1-1 draw with their hosts.

Neymar has been missing for several weeks since he sustained an injury in November. He was ruled out for several weeks as a result of the injury. For reigning Ballon d’Or winner Messi, he was not fit for the Lyon game after testing positive for Covid-19 during the winter break. He has since returned a negative result after a test was carried out last week.

In the absence of Messi and Neymar for the Lyon game, PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino opted for Dutchman GeorginioWijnaldum and Argentine striker Mauro Icardi in attack alongside star man KylianMbappe.

Lyon took an early lead through Brazilian international midfielder Lucas Paqueta. The Brazil national team star gave Lyon the lead in the seventh minute. The hosts held on to that advantage until German substitute Theo Kehrerequalised for PSG with fourteen (14) minutes left on the clock. Kehrer had come on as a substitute for Colin Dagba who started the game at right-back in the absence of first choice AchraafHakimi who’s with the Atlas Lions of Morocco at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament across five Cameroonian cities.

It took Kehrer seven minutes to make his mark and save PSG from defeat. PSG have now drawn four of their last five games in the league winning the other game. They have failed to win four of their last five Ligue 1 matches, as many as their previous 24 Ligue 1 matches where they had a record of 20 wins, two draws and two defeats.