Neymar and Mbappe's partnership could take PSG far in Europe

As world's two most expensive soccer players, Neymar and Kylian Mbapp already stand apart. On field, y have a harmony which could take Paris Saint-Germain far in Champions League after three straight seasons of failing to even reach quarterfinals. Evidence of ir growing understanding was fully displayed in 5-0 home win against an albeit weak Galatasaray side in Champions League midweek. Mbappe set up Neymar with an exquisite back-heeled pass, and Neymar returned compliment with a defense-splitting ball to send electrifying Mbapp through on goal. y also combined in setting up PSG's opening goal for Mauro Icardi.

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" real Neymar is back," Le Parisien newspaper said on Thursday. But for how long? worry for PSG is if relationship between Neymar and Mbapp becomes rar too exclusive, to detriment of teamwork and exclusion of teammates.  concern is that against far better sides later in competition, this will be too predictable and work against PSG. Of Neymar's 57 completed passes against Turkish side, 17 of m went to Mbappe. Hardly any went to Icardi, or striker  although much of his game is about movement off ball to open up for ors.

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Before Icardi's opening goal, which came after 32 minutes, it seemed at times as if Neymar and Mbapp were having a 2 vs. 2 kickabout on a local park, such was ir tendency to pass to only each or. re is denying that with its two biggest stars fully fit, PSG looks an omius side. Neymar set up Mbapp's goal last Saturday in a 3-1 win at Montpellier, where y also combined superbly for Icardi's score. y have t played much toger this season because Neymar sat out first few games of season as he tried to push through a move back to Barcelona, which sold him for a world record 222 million euros (USD 247 million) in 2017.

Neymar n picked up ar niggling injury while with Brazil, keeping him out for six weeks. good news for coach Thomas Tuchel is that, after two seasons of constant injury breaks, Neymar appears close to his best once again. In past four games he's scored three, set up three, and been involved in starting moves for or goals. Tuchel hoped Neymar would be fully fit by January, but he's ahead of schedule.

"Ney has improved physically," Tuchel said.  "He's accelerating more often." 

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This is a crucial and destructive part of Neymar's game: Sudden bursts from midfield and pulling away from his markers over first 10-20 meters. He does t have speed of Mbapp, who can maintain his lightning pace for more than 50 meters without dropping off. But once Neymar does pull away n his silky skillset, and much under-rated strength, become factors that make him incredibly hard to stop in full flow. Tuchel can take furr encourment from fact Neymar was even tracking back and trying to tackle Galatasaray players, a sign he may finally be understanding need for better teamwork and more selflessness. Neymar, however, showed against Montpellier that he still has an irritating need to showboat and verbally provoke opponents.

"He's a bit petulant, a bit haughty with everyone," Montpellier striker Andy Delort said. 

"I told him he needs to respect people. When everyone idolizes you, n you need to show right education."

Mbappe, n 18, joined PSG from Monaco in a deal worth 180 million euros (USD 200 million). He netted his 100th club goal on Wednesday, one week before his 21st birthday. Mbappe was desperate for Neymar t to rejoin Barcelona. w that he has stayed, y both need to justify ir hugely costly partnership by taking PSG far in Europe. cash-rich club has only once reached semifinals. That was in 1995, long before current Qatari ownership bought club in 2011.

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