Icardi, Di Maria hand PSG victory on Neymar's latest return

Neymar made his latest comeback from injury for Paris Saint-Germain on Friday as first-half goals by Mauro Icardi and Angel Di Maria saw Ligue 1 leaders ease to a 2-0 win over Lille at Parc des Princes. in-form Icardi opened scoring from close range in 17th minute with his 10th goal in PSG's last nine games, and Di Maria doubled ir lead just after half-hour mark. Despite t being near ir best, Thomas Tuchel's side were too strong for team who finished runners-up behind m last season.

After just 14 games, PSG are 11 points clear of second-placed Marseille, who play on Sunday. Neymar had t played for his club since October 5, having suffered a hamstring injury playing for Brazil against Nigeria a week later. It was just latest spell on sidelines for world's most expensive player, who has featured in barely half of PSG's matches since signing from Barcelona in 2017.

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His decision to fly to Madrid to take in Davis Cup tennis this week did t go down well with Tuchel, but German coach still handed Neymar a start here. On just his sixth appearance of campaign, Neymar lasted 65 minutes before being replaced by Kylian Mbappe, who had been struggling with illness in recent days. "I didn't expect too much from him because he has been out for six weeks. He lacked precision and his usual sense of timing but that is how it is," said Tuchel of Neymar.

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Fresh for Real Madrid

Brazilian only produced brief glimpses of his class and headed straight to dressing room after being taken off, with some supporters jeering 27-year-old as he departed. "It's rmal, lots of players do that," insisted Tuchel, dismissing any controversy. "Ors go to bench, but I didn't see it because I was focused on making changes on field. re is need to make a big thing about it."

main reason for Neymar's withdrawal, however, will have been to keep him fresh for next Tuesday's trip to Real Madrid when he will hope to make his first Champions League appearance this season. Lille had beaten PSG 5-1 when sides last met in April, but y came here on a run of just one win in nine and without an away victory since March. y were without ir top scorer, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, due to suspension, and coach Christophe Galtier had been left reeling when two of his assistants -- Portuguese duo Joao Sacramento and Nu Santos -- left 48 hours before this game to team up with Jose Mourinho at Tottenham Hotspur.

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y still almost took a second-minute lead through Xeka, but midfielder's shot was saved by Keylor Navas. Instead it was PSG who went in front from ir first chance, Icardi converting at far post after Jose Fonte had failed to cut out Idrissa Gueye's low centre. Mike Maignan saved well from Gueye before home side scored again in 31st minute through ar of ir Argentine contingent.

Both Di Maria and Icardi had scored in PSG's last game, a 2-1 win at Brest, and both were fresh here having t featured in Argentina squad for ir friendly matches against Brazil and Uruguay. On form y surely deserve to be playing for ir country, however. Di Maria controlled Julian Draxler's pass and beat Maignan to make it 2-0. That was end of scoring, although Draxler and substitute Edinson Cavani both squandered excellent second-half chances.

"y didn't play for Argentina and that was good for us because it meant we were able to man ir workload and keep m fresh," Tuchel said of his two goal-scorers.

"I'm delighted because y got ir goals and worked hard for team."

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