Neymar keeps scoring, Donnarumma keeps saving for PSG
PARIS, France (AP) — The goals keep coming for Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and Gianluigi Donnarumma keeps stopping them at the other end.
The Brazil forward netted his eighth goal in seven French league games and Donnarumma parried away a penalty to lead PSG back to the top with a 1-0 win over Brest on Saturday.
Still unbeaten in all competitions ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League, PSG had briefly dropped to second place following Len’s 1-0 win against Troyes on Friday.
Christophe Galtier’s team moved back in charge with its sixth league win, level on points with second-place Marseille but having a better goal difference. Lens is in third place, two points behind the leading duo.
Marseille rallied to beat Lille 2-1 at the Stade Velodrome, bouncing back from its loss against Tottenham in the Champions League midweek. Defender Samuel Gigot volleyed home the winner in the 60th minute after Alexis Sanchez leveled for Marseille following Ismaily’s opener.
Galtier said he regretted that PSG players did not enjoy a more comfortable win and he criticized their “technical mistakes.” Galtier told French media that defender Presnel Kimpembe, who limped off the field near the end, would miss PSG’s next couple of matches because of a muscular lesion.
Neymar’s goal took him top outright in the scoring charts ahead of teammate Kylian Mbappé. With the World Cup looming later this year, the former Barcelona player has been in excellent form, with an additional six assists.
Donnarumma was decisive again nine minutes later to stop another effort from Slimani, ensuring that the hosts stayed in command.
“It’s important to be able to suffer together,” Donnarumma said. “And today, we did it. We knew it would not be easy, and we had to suffer all together.”