Neymar shines on PSG debut

Neymar with a goal and assist on PSG debut vs Guingamp after record move from Barcelona.

NEYMAR marked his Paris Saint-Germain debut with a goal and an assist as they saw off Guingamp 3-0 at Stade Municipal de Roudourou on Sunday evening.

The Parisians bossed the game in the opening stages but were unable to make the most of their early possession, although the away fans were still happy enough to see Neymar producing plenty of flicks and skill, even if it lacked an end product.

Edinson Cavani came close after 16 minutes after the ball fell kindly for him on the edge of the area, although the striker was denied by the legs of goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson.

Neymar eventually managed his first shot in French football midway through the first-half after skipping past two players to work some space, only to rifle over the crossbar from just outside the area.

Guingamp were the first to threaten after the break and almost made the most of a mistake from Neymar, who lost possession at the back and was fortunate to see Etienne Didot fire wide of the mark.

However, any thoughts of a shock result were soon ended as PSG took the lead with 52 minutes gone, although it was a gift of a goal from the hosts as Jordan Ikoko misjudged his back-pass, which rolled past the keeper and into the back of his own net via the post.

The visitors turned on the pressure after going ahead and made it 2-0 just 10 minutes later, Neymar making his first real impact for the club after breaking from his own half and playing an inch-perfect ball through for Cavani, who duly fired home.

And, with eight minutes remaining the PSG fans were treated to what they had been dreaming of as Neymar got his name up in lights, Cavani unselfishly squaring the ball back for the Brazilian to tap home his first goal for the French giants. – kickoff.com