Messi and Neymar Departures Highlight PSG’s Key Problem

Messi and Neymar Departures Highlight PSG’s Key Problem
Paris Saint-Germain cannot convert their scoring chances and have only scored two goals in their three UEFA Champions League fixtures.

As a result, there are questions about opting to leave the superstar era behind.

One positive to having a superstar is that their individualism can be the difference maker in a tightly contested match.

A moment of brilliance can result in a goal, whether they score or generate an assist.

In recent years, PSG had that with Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., and Kylian Mbappé, so whenever the Parisians needed that moment of magic, it was there for them to get out of any complicated situation.

However, with these types of players no longer there, it’s become evident.

Do PSG miss having Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., and Kylian Mbappé?

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Beginning in the summer of 2023, the Ligue 1 side said goodbye to Messi and Neymar and then a year later, Mbappé left.

PSG are focusing on young talent who have yet to reach their potential but so far, none of these players would have the label of superstar.

In his latest column for PSG Talk Extra Time, Football Transfers’ Robin Bairner noted that the capital club are suffering from not having that player with the sparkle in his boots.

“Of course, PSG has moved past its superstar era, but the team lacks the sparkle that players of the past might have brought—that ability to win the game from nothing,” Bairner wrote.

“It’s difficult to see too many players capable of such a feat on the books. Barcola is a prodigious star, but he’s not yet at the level of the very elite players, while Dembélé is, well… Dembélé.

“The problem comes through the center. Kang-in Lee proved against the PSV that he’s not the false nine he’s been shoehorned into, with Marco Asensio a more capable performer in that role.

PSG’s flexibility and balance in Ligue 1 matches with the Spaniard in attack is nice, but there is still a sense that something more is needed.”

Barca win built off ‘exceptional’ young midfield

Barcelona humiliated Bayern Munich in their 4-1 Champions League win on Wednesday night, in large part thanks to three “exceptional” young midfielders.

While Raphinha will rightly get plaudits for his superb hat-trick, Barcelona’s win was built off Marc Casado, Pedri and Fermin Lopez’s tireless work in the middle.

All three are just 21 years old, while two of them are fortunate to even be in the side.

“If Barcelona had the money, they’d have Bernardo Silva, they would have kept Ilkay Gundogan and those two would have played,” Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told the BBC MOTD Champions League Highlights show.

“Those who are injured like Gavi, Andreas Christensen and Frenkie de Jong would have played ahead of two of these three. Only Pedri would be in the line-up.”

Instead, it is Casado and Lopez who are partnering Pedri and slowly becoming household names.

Having kept Bayern’s experienced trio of Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich and Joao Palhinha – who have 21 league titles between them – at bay, Barcelona may have stumbled on the perfect midfield three.