By AFP
Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Spanish coach Unai Emery (L)
shakes hands with PSG’s Brazilian forward Neymar during a training session at
the Camp des Loges in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, on August 18, 2017. /
AFP PHOTO / bertrand GUAY
After dazzling on his first appearance in a Paris Saint-Germain
shirt, Neymar is in line to make his home debut for his new club against
Toulouse on Sunday.
The world’s most expensive player scored one goal and set up
another in a starring performance as PSG beat Guingamp 3-0 away in Brittany
last weekend to maintain their perfect start to the new French season.
The 222 million-euro ($261 million) signing from Barcelona
has already taken to the pitch at PSG’s Parc des Princes for an unveiling
before their 2-0 win over Amiens there on the opening day of the campaign.
But he was not registered in time to play in that match so
PSG’s home support are eager to watch the 25-year-old run out against Toulouse.
In contrast, the opposition coach is rather more apprehensive.
“We are going to Paris to defend first of all, that is for
sure. We will park the bus,” said Pascal Dupraz, whose team did beat PSG at
home and drew away last season en route to a mid-table finish.
“I believe in the possibility of getting a result in Paris.
That is the beauty of football too. If I didn’t believe then I’d be as well to
do something else.”
Dupraz, who has this week brought in Ivory Coast winger
Max-Alain Gradel on loan from Bournemouth, added: “We will need luck and to
have God on our side because clearly this PSG side is incredible.
“But be careful not to call this game Toulouse against
Neymar! Paris will win the league, I think, and will once again go far in
Europe.”
PSG have been busy trying to reduce their wage bill
following the Neymar signing, and have loaned unwanted Spanish forward Jese to
Stoke City while agreeing to sell France midfielder Blaise Matuidi to Juventus
for 20 million euros.
Meanwhile, they are apparently ready to pay another
blockbuster fee of 180 million euros to sign Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe.
The 18-year-old striker, who hails from the Paris suburbs,
is keen on the move and while Monaco would prefer him to go to Real Madrid, the
French champions have left him out of their squad to face Metz on Friday.
Nice debut for Sneijder?
The decision to drop Mbappe came after he was left on the bench for the duration of last weekend’s 4-1 win at Dijon, in which Radamel Falcao scored a hat-trick.
The decision to drop Mbappe came after he was left on the bench for the duration of last weekend’s 4-1 win at Dijon, in which Radamel Falcao scored a hat-trick.
“The philosophy at AS Monaco is to play those who are at 100
percent and totally available to the squad,” said coach Leonardo Jardim.
Lyon are top of the early standings on goal difference and
they will look to make it three wins from three when they host Bordeaux on
Saturday.
Also on maximum points are Saint-Etienne, who host Amiens,
and Marseille, whose home clash with Angers comes in between the two legs of
their Europa League play-off against Domzale of Slovenia.
It has been a difficult start to the season for last
season’s third-placed side Nice. They lost their opening two league outings and
then went down 2-0 away to Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League
play-off on Wednesday.
They need a lift when they entertain Guingamp on Saturday,
when star duo Mario Balotelli and Wesley Sneijder could play some part.
“They are coming back, but I don’t know if they will start,”
said coach Lucien Favre.
Fixtures (1800 GMT unless stated)
Friday
Metz v Monaco (1845)
Saturday
Lyon v Bordeaux (1500), Montpellier v Strasbourg, Nice v
Guingamp, Rennes v Dijon, Saint-Etienne v Amiens, Troyes v Nantes
Sunday
Lille v Caen (1300), Marseille v Angers (1500), Paris
Saint-Germain v Toulouse (1900)