PARIS, France -- Neymar wasted no time in making an impact on the field for Paris Saint-Germain, scoring on his debut in a 3-0 win at Guingamp on Sunday.
The Brazilian world record signing was handed a start by coach Unai Emery for the game in Brittany, two days after international clearance came through for his 222 million-euro ($261 million) switch from Barcelona.
The 25-year-old, at home in PSG's all yellow change kit, played a part in the own goal scored by Jordan Ikoko that gave the away side the lead early in the second half.
He then set up the second goal for Edinson Cavani with a superb pass in behind the Guingamp defence before completing a comfortable victory with his team's third goal eight minutes from the end as PSG made it two wins from two to start the French season.
"I'm very happy. The main thing was to win. The team played well and I played well," Neymar, speaking in Spanish, told Canal Plus.
"We are trying to improve all the time and we'll get to know each other better yet, but it is easy to play with players of such quality.
"It is always very important to score, not just in the first game. I am very calm. This is a very big challenge for me as a person, but we have a great team and the season has just started."
Despite the many distractions of the last couple of weeks, including trips to China, Portugal and the French Riviera and glitzy presentations to the media and PSG fans, Neymar lasted the full 90 minutes.
He had taken the place of Javier Pastore in the Paris side in the only change from last week's 2-0 win over Amiens, completing a 350 million-euro front three with fellow South Americans Cavani and Angel Di Maria.
Neymar was one of four Brazilians in the PSG line-up, not including Brazil-born Italy midfielder Thiago Motta, for the game played before a sell-out crowd at the 18,000-capacity Stade du Roudourou.
Falcao hat-trick
Guingamp, a sleepy little town 500 kilometres west of Paris with a population of barely 7,000, may have been a slightly incongruous setting for such an occasion but the match was broadcast live in more than 180 countries according to his new club.
That was a sign of the interest generated worldwide by Neymar's transfer, which Qatar-owned PSG hope will help them conquer Europe after so far coming up short in the Champions League in recent seasons.
Emery's side are also desperate to regain the French crown after losing out to Monaco last season.
Neymar, playing mainly as an inside left, threatened sporadically in the opening stages before his cross in the 35th minute found compatriot Marquinhos, who headed against the woodwork.
He then watched as a Cavani free-kick was tipped over by Karl-Johan Johnsson as the first half ended goalless.
But PSG needed just seven minutes of the second half to get the breakthrough with Neymar involved in the build-up as Ikoko -- a former PSG player -- tried to play the ball back to Johnsson and succeeded only in passing it into his own net.
Neymar then released Cavani with a delightful pass as the Uruguayan slotted home the second goal just after the hour mark.
All that was missing was a goal of his own and that arrived eight minutes from the end as Neymar finished from close range following a Cavani cutback.
PSG are second in the fledgling table, behind Lyon on goal difference. They are one of five teams to have maximum points after two games.
Defending champions Monaco have also won both matches so far after Radamel Falcao netted a hat-trick in their 4-1 victory at Dijon earlier.
Jemerson also scored for Monaco as Kylian Mbappe was left on the bench amid speculation linking him with a 180 million-euro move to either Real Madrid or PSG.
Sunday's other game in France saw Marcelo Bielsa's Lille finish with 10 men in a 3-0 defeat at Strasbourg.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
PARIS, France -- He has dazzled Rio's imposing Maracana and Barcelona's storied Camp Nou, but it's Guingamp's humble 17,000-capacity Stade du Rouduorou, tucked away in sleepy Brittany, which on Sunday greets Neymar, the world's most expensive footballer.
With the mundanity of transfer paperwork finally resolved, the 25-year-old Brazilian magician will line up for Paris Saint-Germain for the first time since his mind-boggling 222 million euro ($261 million) move from Barcelona.
"He's physically ready to play the whole ninety minutes," PSG coach Unai Emery told AFP.
"He's been working well and we looked hard at tactics and free-kicks. We all want him in the starting eleven, he's a player we need in the group."
Even Guingamp coach Antoine Kombouaré, himself a former PSG boss, wants Neymar to play despite the potential for destruction at the feet of the Brazilian superstar.
"I want the fans to come Sunday to see Guingamp win... preferably against a side with Neymar in it.
"But the people here are not talking about Neymar. The people here support their team."
It will be a major culture shock for Neymar in a town which has a population of just 7,000 and is best known for its annual Breton dance showcase, the Saint Loup Festival which draws visitors from around the world.
However, that's not to say that Guingamp do not have football pedigree.
They were French Cup winners in 2009 and 2014 and last season beat PSG 2-1 in the corresponding league fixture, the capital city club's second defeat in four visits to Guingamp since their hosts were promoted in 2013.
Furthermore, former Chelsea and Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba spent a season at the club in 2002/2003.
"We could have filled a stadium of 40,000 seats with no problem at all," said Guingamp president Bertrand Desplat whose club budget is an eighth of what PSG paid for Neymar.
"Remember the star of the show is going to be Neymar and for us we want to welcome this very special player and his team in the best conditions possible."
Journalists from far and wide are expected for the game -- the ground's press tribune, built to hold 80 people, has been extended to cater for 350.
A total of 145 stewards will be on duty at the ground -- 30 more than usual.
- 1,200km away, Barca start new era -
Meanwhile, French media speculated over who in the expensively-assembled PSG team will make way for Neymar.
Le Parisien suggested it will be Javier Pastore, the Argentine star who was the first major signing after PSG were bought by their ambitious Qatari owners.
"After first giving up his No.10 shirt, will he (Pastore) now give him (Neymar) his place in the team?" Le Parisien asked of the player who took up the No.10 shirt after Zlatan Ibrahimovic left for Manchester United last season, only to hand it to the Brazilian this summer.
"Neymar will start on the left at the cost of Pastore."
Sports daily L'Equipe saw things differently, though.
"Neymar -- the football version," ran their headline on Saturday in a light-hearted reference to how the most expensive transfer in football history has dominated news despite Neymar not yet having kicked a ball in anger.
"A trio of Neymar, Pastore and Angel di Maria will support (striker) Ederson Cavani," predicted L'Equipe.
The match in Guingamp kicks-off at 1900GMT.
An hour later, and around 1,200km further south, Barcelona will start their first competitive match without Neymar by facing bitter rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.
Barca's scattergun approach to finding a replacement for Neymar has so far been unsuccessful with bids for Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele of Borussia Dortmund rebuffed.
Gerard Deulofeu was handed Neymar's role alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez up front in Monday's 5-0 friendly win over Chapecoense on his return to the club after spells at Everton and AC Milan.
And the Spanish international took his chance with a goal and two assists in just 45 minutes on the field.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
