With Neymar back action, PSG win Champions Trophy
Neymar scored on his go back to action for Paris Saint-Germain because they defeat arch rivals Marseille 2-1 to gain this season's Champions Trophy.
The Brazilian rolled real estate an 85th minute penalty to put PSG two goals ahead following Mauro Icardi's first-half opener to give new coach Mauricio Pochettino the first trophy of his reign in the French capital, and managerial career.
"I hope to gain more titles, however the first will always be special," said Pochettino.
"We deserved this triumph, we payed an excellent match."
The Champions Trophy may be the French equivalent of a brilliant Cup, usually contested at the start of the season by the league champions and French Glass winners.
With PSG winning both last time, Marseille had been selected as their opponents as the Ligue 1 runners-up. This season's edition was delayed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Hopes were large for a good feisty tussle in Lens after Marseille's little league win at PSG in September ended with five red cards and Neymar accusing Marseille center rear Alvaro Gonzalez of racism found in the aftermath.
However it was a largely tame face in northern France, with noteworthy incident being substitute Neymar's goalscoring go back after per month away.
The 28-year-old hadn't featured for the French champions since being stretchered off with an ankle injury during a 1-0 defeat to current league leaders Lyon on December 13.
Icardi thought he previously given PSG the business lead with a 22nd minute tap-in, only to have the goal eliminated for offside immediately after Kylian Mbappe strayed former Marseille's back brand to accumulate Leandro Paredes' defence-splitting move.
Seven minutes soon after it had been Mbappe's turn to truly have a goal chalked away when he started his run prematurily . to connect with an extended move from his captain Marquinhos.
Icardi finally set dominant PSG ahead 6 minutes before the break with a goal typical of his poacher's style, first conference Angel Di Maria's raking lengthy ball with a close-array header that Steven Mandanda pushed onto the post.
The Argentine was quickest to check out up as the ball dribbled back right out of the goal, and he tapped in his second goal is as many games since returning from injury.
He almost doubled his side's business lead in first 50 percent stoppage period when he hit a good left-footed strike cool off the crossbar.
Neymar returned to actions found in the 65th minute and was first immediately targeted simply by Gonzalez, the Argentine fouling the superstar attacker several times in what looked like a good continuation of the pair's spat.
However it was Neymar who had the last laugh when he stepped up to score the decisive second goal for PSG from the penalty spot after Icardi was brought down by Marseille's substitute keeper Yohann Pele.
Dimitri Payet pulled a single again for Marseille with a minute remaining nonetheless it was inadequate too past due for Andre Villas-Boas' area.
