Joao Neves further underlined his growing importance to Paris Saint-Germain with a stunning goal in the 3-0 win over Toulouse in Ligue 1 on Friday, as club football returned after the November international break ahead of another series vital part of UEFA Champions League matches. The Portuguese international midfielder smashed a magnificent volley from the edge of the penalty area to open the scoring against the visitors at the Parc des Princes before Lucas Beraldo and Vitinha secured victory with late goals.
Neves now has two goals and six assists so far this season since his arrival in Paris during the summer from SL Benfica. His other goal came against his bitter rival, Olympique Marseille, at Le Classique. The 20-year-old is arguably one of the best. interpreters of this term to date. The midfielder began his Parisian career with a host of assists against Havre AC and Montpellier HSC which have since been converted into goals that have allowed him to continue establishing himself as an important emerging figure for Portugal under Roberto Martínez.
“I think we wanted to show our quality as a team, that was the most important thing,” he said after the game. “The score doesn’t matter, what matters is playing a good game and being able to repeat it. The most important thing is the team. This victory is very good because we have the Champions League just around the corner and we are giving ourselves confidence.” “.
Settling in alongside compatriot Vitinha and fellow midfield wonder Warren Zaire-Emery, Luis Enrique’s set-up suits the trio perfectly and even UEFA Euro 2024 standout Fabián Ruiz has struggled to dislodge the star Portuguese or French for much longer than a game. Next up is Bayern Munich in a crucial UCL clash in Bavaria next week and the League Phase is not going to plan so far, giving Luis Enrique plenty to consider before heading to Germany. .
“I think the games after an international break and before a Champions League game are always difficult,” the Spaniard said after the game. “That was the case again, but I think we were up to the task. With Joao, he played as a number six and then as a left-back, we wanted to use his ability to advance behind. When a midfielder scores, we insist on it. But I’m more satisfied with its second half”.
Neves showing his versatility will have been a big boost for Luis Enrique as an alternative to another Portuguese star in Nuno Mendes, but in the middle is where the Tavira native is most valuable and he is expected to be influential again next Tuesday. Nothing has phased Neves yet in his time with PSG and he was even one of the best players at Arsenal when the Gunners beat the French champions a few months ago with the midfielder hitting the woodwork.
It’s too early to say and make detailed comparisons between the two, but there are similar elements to the rise of Marco Verratti that Neves is currently exhibiting and not just the young age at which he has become an established starter. An active player but more competent at scoring and assisting regularly, PSG’s number 87 looks to be a key part of the next big trio of midfielders at the Parc des Princes, like Verratti before him, along with Thiago Motta and Blaise Matuidi.
Continuing to establish that against Bayern is the logical and necessary next step, as Championnat’s flagship team faces early elimination from the League Phase unless they can achieve a much better final half of results than their initial four points in four games. It will come as no surprise that Neves will influence any potential positive result at the Allianz Arena this week and is the perfect opportunity for the youngster to announce himself to a wider audience.
