Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar will be sidelined for four weeks due to a groin injury, the French Ligue 1 club said on Thursday, ruling him out of next week’s Champions League trip for their last-16 first leg against his former club Barcelona.
Neymar was injured in a challenge during PSG’s 1-0 French Cup win at Ligue 2 side Caen on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old Brazilian’s availability for the return leg in Paris is also in doubt with the match scheduled for March 10. Neymar’s absence will be a double blow since Angel Di Maria is already ruled out.
Thrilling victory
Everton substitute Bernard’s extra-time strike sealed a 5-4 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in an absorbing FA Cup fifth-round thriller at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Brazilian settled a see-saw tie with a powerful left-footed strike in the 97th minute.
“I enjoyed it, and I didn’t enjoy it!” Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho, who was up against Carlo Ancelotti, said of a breathless tie.
Manchester City, meanwhile, secured a record 15th straight victory in all competitions with a 3-1 win at Championship side Swansea. The victory run is a record for a top-flight team, surpassing the 14 successive wins achieved by Preston in 1892 and Arsenal in 1987.
Barca lose
Sevilla defender Jules Kounde scored an extraordinary solo goal and Ivan Rakitic struck against his old side in a 2-0 win over Barcelona in a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
Kounde opened the scoring, dribbling from his own area and playing a one-two with a teammate before bursting past four Barca players to confidently slot past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
