Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 St-Etienne: 5 Talking Points as Neymar takes centre stage | Coupe de France 2019-20 

PSG lifted their 13th Coupe de France title
PSG lifted their 13th Coupe de France title

#3 Confidence booster for PSG ahead of marquee fixtures

Tuchel would use this fixture as preparation for the Champions League
Tuchel would use this fixture as preparation for the Champions League

For all of their domestic invincibility, it is no hidden secret that the Champions League is where PSG's main aspirations lie.

Having eliminated Borussia Dortmund in the round-of-16, the Parisians are set to take on Atalanta in the quarterfinal. While this might look like an easy fixture on paper, the Italians have the potential to upset anybody on the continent.

Thomas Tuchel would have sought to use this clash with St-Etienne to get his side back into the winning mentality. This victory was exactly what the doctor ordered ahead of their clash with Lyon as well as their assault on the Champions League.


#2 PSG left sweating over Kylian Mbappe's fitness

Kylian Mbappe left the field in tears
Kylian Mbappe left the field in tears

As earlier touched on, Loic Perrin's tackle on Kylian Mbappe caused ugly scenes in the match, with no less than four yellow cards shown in the ensuing free-for-all.

In all honesty, the PSG players were within their right to react so angrily, as the tackle was truly horrendous and has no place even in the combat sports, least of all on a football field.

The 21-year-old was left clutching his ankles in visible agony and left the field for treatment, only to return to the PSG bench with his ankle in casts.

With less than three weeks to go before the resumption of Champions League football, PSG are sweating over the fitness of Mbappe. This is a less than ideal situation for the club, given his abilities as a genuine game-changer.


#1 Neymar the difference-maker once again

Neymar was the difference maker
Neymar was the difference maker

After a two-year spell that was ravaged by injuries and off-field issues, Neymar has starred this season as the difference-maker that PSG fans hoped he would be when they broke the world record fee to sign him in 2017.

The campaign started with injuries for the Brazilian, but he returned to full fitness in time and was the difference-maker in the round-of-16 elimination of Dortmund, with a goal in both legs to eliminate the Germans.

Neymar's status as a difference-maker is not in doubt and he starred with four goals from three friendly fixtures to get in tune for competitive action post-lockdown. Despite not being at his mercurial best, his 14th-minute strike was enough to make a difference once again.

The Brazilian's form will be crucial if PSG are to mount a serious challenge in the Champions League next month.


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