Neymar is expected to miss the second leg of Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich as a result of his ankle injury, head coach Christophe Galtier has revealed.
Neymar was taken off on a stretcher during PSG's thrilling 4-3 win against Lille on February 19, with scans subsequently revealing he had suffered ankle ligament damage.
The Brazil international's injury immediately threw his participation against Bayern into doubt, with PSG needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit after losing the first leg at the Parc des Princes – a game that saw fellow attacking star Kylian Mbappe reduced to the role of substitute through injury.
PSG's fears were confirmed as Galtier previewed Saturday's Ligue 1 meeting with Nantes, saying: "In the next two games, we won't have Neymar available.
"I think he will miss out against Bayern Munich."
A medical update issued by the club, meanwhile, said Neymar was continuing his rehabilitation and would be reassessed on Monday – two days before PSG's trip to Germany.
Neymar's absence did not hamper PSG last time out, as Mbappe and Lionel Messi starred in a 3-0 thrashing of Marseille to move the Ligue 1 leaders eight points clear at the summit.
That win saw Mbappe move level with PSG's all-time record scorer Edinson Cavani with 200 goals for the club, while Messi claimed the 700th senior goal of his club career.
Having exchanged assists for all three goals, Messi and Mbappe have now combined for 10 goals in Ligue 1 this season, which is the most in the division and four more than Neymar and Mbappe.
However, Galtier dismissed suggestions PSG were a more balanced side with Neymar sidelined, saying: "Our block is much more compact, denser.
"With the absence of Neymar, instead of having two midfielders, we will be with three midfielders and two attackers.
"To tell you that Neymar's absence is trivial… no. It's a detrimental absence for us."
While Wednesday's trip to Bayern is viewed as make-or-break for PSG's season, Galtier knows Nantes – who have won two of their last four league games against the Parisians – will provide a stern test.
"The most important game is the one that's coming. Our squad is weakened by suspensions and injuries, we have to make our way in the league," he said.
"I hope the players don't have the game against Bayern on Wednesday in a corner of their heads. It's important to have a third consecutive victory in the league."
O'Neil confident Wolves will overachieve this season despite Newcastle setback
Gary O'Neil is confident Wolves will overachieve again in the Premier League this season despite falling to a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday.
Mario Lemina had given the hosts a half-time lead, only for Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes' long-range efforts completing the turnaround for the Magpies.
Wolves have now failed to win any of their opening four league games this term and occupy the final place in the bottom three.
Their single point against Nottingham Forest makes this their joint-worst start to a Premier League campaign, along with 2003-04, when they were relegated in last place.
O'Neil's side have now also lost six of their last seven league games at Molineux, losing more games on home turf in 2024 than any other team in the top-flight (eight).
But the Wolves head coach, who oversaw a 14th-place finish in his debut campaign at the helm last year, is confident his players will find their groove.
"We have better depth, of course. The run is the run. The team should be judged on what they did for the whole of last season.
"I am sure we will overachieve what many people will expect of us this season.
"Everyone is desperate for our first win. That was close to being our best today.
"We have gone up against a side that have spent an awful lot of money and were in the Champions League.
"There are not a lot of teams that can go against Newcastle and look the most likely to win."
There were positives for O'Neil to take from the defeat, however, most notably the performance of new addition Andre in central midfield.
The Brazilian completed all 40 of his passes against Newcastle, the most on record by a player on their first ever Premier League start without misplacing one (since 2003-04).
"Very good, he's a good player obviously. New system today with the three midfielders in. An awful lot of positives," O'Neil said.
"Of course the only positives that people are interested in is points.
"From my point of view, to have come up with a new structure for the team and for it to look how it did against Newcastle was a big plus for us."
Al-Ittihad 7-1 Al-Wehda: Benzema treble keeps hosts perfect
Karim Benzema's hat-trick helped Al-Ittihad maintain their perfect start to the Saudi Pro League season as they thrashed Al-Wehda 7-1 on Saturday.
Benzema opened the scoring in stunning fashion with just two minutes on the clock, curling a fine effort beyond the grasp of Ignacio de Arruabarrena.
Houssem Aouar doubled the hosts' advantage, only for Youssef Amyn to half the deficit before Fabinho's header in the fourth minute of first-half injury time gave Laurent Blanc's side a comfortable advantage at the break.
Benzema struck again shortly after the restart to notch his second of the encounter before Fawaz Al Yami netted Al-Ittihad's fifth nine minutes later.
Substitute Saleh Al Shehri thought he had concluded the scoring in the 87th minute, but Benzema was not to be denied his treble.
The Frenchman was provided with the simplest of finishes after Moussa Diaby's cross into his path, with the former Aston Villa man laying on four assists during the game.
Data Debrief: French connection
An emphatic triumph for the hosts saw them register an expected goals (xG) tally of 3.69 from their 15 shots, as their French forwards took centre-stage.
Benzema contributed 1.29 xG to the hosts' total, with the Frenchman having more shots on target (five) and playing more passes in the final third (30) than any other player.
But his compatriot Diaby also impressed.
The 25-year-old ended the encounter having created more chances (five) than anyone on the pitch, with his eight touches in the opposition box the joint-most alongside Benzema.
Conte hails 'atypical' Lukaku after flying start to Napoli career
Napoli coach Antonio Conte heaped praise on Romelu Lukaku after he scored and provided two assists in their dominant 4-0 victory at Cagliari on Sunday.
Lukaku was reunited with his former Inter boss Conte, under whom he scored 24 goals as the Nerazzurri won the Scudetto in 2020-21, ahead of Napoli loaning wantaway striker Victor Osimhen to Galatasaray this month.
He has made a flying start to life in Naples, netting in a 2-1 win over Parma ahead of the international break, then getting on the scoresheet again as Cagliari were swatted aside on matchday four.
He also laid on assists for Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, just the third time he has scored and provided multiple assists in a single game in Europe's top five leagues. Two of those instances have come under Conte.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia after Sunday's game, Conte outlined why he was so keen to bring Lukaku in.
"I have always said that I wanted Romelu at Inter, had also requested him at Chelsea before he went to Manchester United, because he is an atypical striker," Conte said.
"He is extremely tall and physically strong, but also very good at sprinting forward. His condition is still nowhere near optimal, but he becomes fundamental for us."
The victory took Napoli top of the table ahead of Inter's trip to Monza later on Sunday, with the Partenopei registering three straight wins after starting with a humiliating 3-0 loss at Verona.
Conte, however, has dismissed suggestions his team are ready to compete for the Scudetto, saying they have plenty more work to do.
"I do feel that at the moment all teams are settling down still, as the transfer window closed late and we are all trying to find our shape," Conte said.
"We need to keep improving on duels all over the field, keeping focused and concentrated, because that is what you require in Serie A.
"We’ve worked hard over the last two and a half months, we’ve got to put on the blinkers and keep pushing forward without looking at anyone else."
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