Champions League

Neymar: Player Rating and Performance v Atalanta

A night of ups and downs for the Brazilian, but he still proved key as PSG progressed to the last four of the Champions League

 
10:24am on Thursday 13th August 2020
By
Martin Macdonald

PSG qualified for the semi-final of the Champions League thanks to a dramatic 2-1 victory against Atalanta, scoring two goals in injury time to break the hearts of La Dea.

Neymar had moments of brilliance throughout the game, only for his finishing to be uncharacteristically wayward.

He was, ultimately, the key reason for PSG's progression, however.

What was Neymar's overall display like?

📷 Match Snapshot

Only moments into the match, the Brazilian broke through on goal one-on-one with the keeper. All he had to do was either pick his spot or dance around the goalkeeper to pass home, but ended up screwing his eventual strike well past the right-hand post.

That was a sign of things to come in the first half as, for the most part, his approach play was fabulous; nutmegging players, going on sparkling dribbles, taking on all comers.

But he would again pass up a golden opportunity in the opening 45 as he latched on to a mistake to once again go through with just the keeper to beat. With plenty of the goal to aim at, he again missed, this time with his left foot.

The entry of Kylian Mbappe into proceedings changed things, though, as his presence opened up some space for Neymar.

A ⏱️ 90' With another 'bottler' story set to hit the headlines for PSG, they eventually equalised in extra time after Neymar broke free at the back post to fire a shot-cum-cross along goal which was smuggled over the line by Marquinhos.

A couple of minutes later, Atalanta would succumb to the constant pressure to lose the game.

Neymar was integral to the move, as he collected the ball on the edge of the area before, in a flash, taking possession in to thread a gorgeous pass in behind the opposition defence for Mbappe, who subsequently squared inside for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to score.

Atalanta 1-2 PSG: Full Player Ratings and Statistics

Even outwith the contribution to the goals, and the bad misses, Neymar was sublime.

He completed an outrageous 16 dribbles, sent 29 passes into the final third, and had nine touches inside the opposition box.

All of these metrics were, by far, the highest of any player in the match.

〽️ Rating Week-on-Week

✔️ IMPROVEMENT

Neymar's last match was in the Coupe de la Ligue final against Lyon in which he scored a 6.9 FC Rating.

The match against Atalanta represents a significant boost to a 9.1 FC Rating.

🗝️ Key Stats

Neymar match stats

StatisticValueNotes
FC Rating9.1🏆 FC Man of the Match
Mins Played90
Touches113Rank #1
Touches In Box9Rank #1
Shots7Rank #1
On Target2
Assists1
Final Third Passes29Rank #1
Dribbles16Rank #1

What Next?

Next up, PSG take on the winner of Atletico Madrid versus RB Leipzig fixture. If Neymar is in this kind of form, either of those teams will be in for a tough night.

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