Trouble in paradise
It wasn’t a great evening for Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain against Real Madrid in the Champions League and social media made sure he knew.
The Brazilian was expected to wreak havoc on his return to the Bernabeu having done it many times for Barcelona.
With his new club PSG the more in-form side between them and Real Madrid, it was expected they would control the tie.
That was partly accurate up to a point when Adrien Rabiot gave the Paris side the lead in the first half.
Though, it didn’t take long for Cristiano Ronaldo to bring the side level in emphatic fashion from the penalty spot.
While there was drama surrounding the spot-kick, the star man planted his penalty into the side netting with no doubt.
Not only was that the turning point in the game, it was Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking 100th Champions League goal for Real Madrid.
Though, it only got better when he put Real Madrid ahead with a fortunate goal after a save from Alphonse Areola.
Marcelo caught the French goalkeeper out at the front post to give the Bernabeu side a 3-1 lead going into the second leg.
Though, another big talking point was Neymar’s performance.
Didn’t live up to the hype
You expect a lot from Neymar these days, you expect him to show up when you need him most.
While he did show spells of dominance during the game and set Rabiot up with a brilliant back-heel, his performance as a whole left a lot to be desired.
Several runs come to nothing, when he should have passed he shot, when he should have gone himself, he passed.
Safe to say, the internet and social media found it both amusing and surprising.
You can see a selection of those tweets below.
Neymar left Barcelona to prove to everyone that he can dominate matches by himself on the big stage pic.twitter.com/3dtty114Dl
— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) February 14, 2018
Neymar & Kylian Mbappé both with very poor 2nd halves.
The difference? Neymar the supposed beacon of Champions’ League hope has gone missing when Les Parisiens needed a leader. The Frenchman at least still seeking to make inroads late on.— Get French Football (@GFFN) February 14, 2018
What will be funny is if we win CL and meanwhile Neymar left to win it with a team who ain’t shit and is getting knocked out again
— NAZ (@FCNazalona) February 14, 2018
You think Neymar activates his Madrid clause in June or after the World Cup?
— J Asante (@Jnicee17) February 14, 2018
Neymar went from €222m to €2.22.
— Chef (@champ_ian) February 14, 2018
Neymar, you can’t clown around in Ligue 1 games and then go missing when PSG need you most as a leader in the #ChampionsLeague.
It’s one of the other. #RMAPSG
— Ryan Bailey (@RyanJayBailey) February 14, 2018
Kind reminder that PSG paid over €400M for Neymar & Mbappe.
— Ali (@RM_Insider) February 14, 2018
Tell me again how Neymar wanted to leave Messi’s shadow?
— Alex Truica (@AlexTruica) February 14, 2018
“Neymar will become the best in the world when he leaves Barcelona, Messi holding him back”
dude can’t even outshine 33 years old Ronaldo.. trash
— noris (@iam_NORIS) February 14, 2018
Neymar really put up a 2/10
— Wengerball is back (@BasedChasen) February 14, 2018