Neymar has been firing on all cylinders in training with Paris Saint-Germain during the international break and could rejoin Kylian Mbappé in the French champions' line-up for his first Ligue 1 Uber Eats start since late January in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with Lille (kick-off 3pm GMT).
Sidelined for over a month with an adductor injury, Neymar made his return with a 20-minute cameo in the 4-2 win over Lyon just before the international break. Having remained in Paris to work on his fitness, the 29-year-old has gotten back into shape, and is in line to begin the Round 31 game at the Parc des Princes.
"The international break was good for Neymar. He's been able to train at a very high level for two weeks and show his determination to return to the pitch," said boss Mauricio Pochettino. "He now has to improve his rhythm and his fitness, because he's lacking playing time. But we're very happy with what he did during the international break."
Marco Verratti, Danilo Pereira, Mauro Icardi, Layvin Kurzawa and Juan Bernat are all unavailable, however, for the match that sees leaders PSG play host to the side that — though they were beaten 3-0 by Pochettino's men in the Coupe de France last month — are second only to them in the league table on goal difference.
WATCH: PSG take Lyon apart
"Lille are a very good side, one of the best in France, and they have done well since the start of the season. It's going to be tough, but we hope to win. The 3-0 Coupe de France win? Each match is different, the competition is too. Lille are a strong team with very good players, just like us. After the international break, we'll have to see what situation Lille are in, how their players are after playing and some long trips, just like ours. It's hard to say what kind of game it'll be, but we expect it to be very difficult," explained Pochettino.
"It's an important game for both sides. There are three important points at stake, but there is some way to go before the end of the league season. We want to win to stay on top of the table, but there are a lot of matches still to play."
No side in one of Europe's top five leagues have more clean sheets than PSG and Lille, who drew 0-0 when they met at the Stade Pierre Mauroy earlier this season. Zeki Celik — like Verratti, positive for COVID-19 — will be unable to help the visitors attempt to record their 17th clean sheet of the campaign with Tiago Djalo stepping in at right-back for the Turkey international.
While PSG were beaten by Nantes in their last home game, Lille slipped up against another struggling side, Nîmes, in the final outing before the international break, allowing the reigning champions to edge ahead of them in the title race.
"I prefer to talk about a race for the podium," said Lille coach Christophe Galtier, who is also without Jérémy Pied. "We were out in front for quite a few weeks, we slipped up against Nîmes and Paris went ahead. We'll need freshness, sang-froid, and to be cold-headed in our analysis. We mustn't panic, and know that we can battle to the end and — in spite of everything — be disappointed on the final day of the season. But whatever happens, it'll have been a keenly contested league season."
Galtier had been impressed by PSG's win against Lyon, who now find themselves three points behind the lead duo, but has told his team to try and keep their focus on what they can do, not what their opponents might do.
"For an hour, Paris were extraordinary, but I don't want us to be dependent on whether Paris are having a good or bad day. We can't hope that Paris are a little less good. We have to concentrate on what we have to do. Regardless of the level they are at, we have to be at 100% to have a hope of winning."
Probable teams
PSG: Navas – Florenzi, Marquinhos, Kehrer, Diallo – Gueye, Paredes – Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappé – Kean
Lille: Maignan – Pied, Fonte, Botman, Reinildo – Weah, Xeka, André, Bamba – David, Yilmaz
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