Neymar was both hero and villain as the Brazil superstar scored and was then sent off as Paris Saint Germain snatched a last-gasp 2-2 draw in a fiery clash with bitter rivals Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Marseille opened the scoring with a Luiz Gustavo long-range shot on 16 minutes before Neymar levelled with a fine threaded shot on 33 minutes for his 10th goal in 11 games for the club.
After Florian Thauvin fired Marseille ahead late on, Neymar was booked and then red-carded in the space of two minutes when appearing to headbutt Marseille’s Argentine striker Lucas Ocampos.
In another dramatic twist, a bullet-like free-kick from Edinson Cavani made it 2-2 in time added on to salvage a point for PSG as Marseille players slumped to the Stade Velodrome pitch in disgust and frustration.
“We are a little disappointed with the red card for Neymar because he was the victim of lots of fouls throughout the match,” said PSG coach Unai Emery. “I believe that it’s the job of everyone to protect the great players.”
The result means PSG keep their unbeaten record atop Ligue 1 with 26 points, four ahead of Monaco on 22. Marseille are fifth on 18.
“It was an important goal given how this match went,” said the Uruguayan striker Cavani.
“It was very difficult for us to play in this atmosphere and it’s an important point. That’s football – there are matches where you have to give everything.”
Ambitious Marseille, bought last year by American businessman Frank McCourt, are targeting a return to the Champions League and would likely have settled for a point ahead of the kick-off.
Red-hot atmosphere
The atmosphere was red hot with supporters fighting running battles with police outside the ground with even cars bearing Paris number plates being attacked. There were 13 arrests at a game from which PSG fans were banned over security fears.
Inside, Neymar was constantly pelted with coins and lighters when he took corners and needed police protection with raised shields when he went close to the sidelines.
After a series of heavy tackles the Brazilian, the world’s most expensive footballer, picked up his first yellow for standing on the hand of Morgan Sanson, who had just fouled him.
Two minutes later Neymar suffered a further series of challenges and eventually lost his cool by appearing to aim a headbutt at Ocampos.
The Argentine fell to the floor and remained there before Neymar smiled broadly and turned away without protest as the referee waved his red card.
PSG’s other key striker Kylian Mbappe had an evening to forget as he was marked and tackled out of the match and was even booked when appealing for a penalty.
“It wasn’t the best Paris performance,” said Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. “We are disappointed, that goal killed us, but we have to use this as a springboard now.”
Marseille coach Rudi Garcia was also frustrated. “We lost two points, we could have gone 3-1 up. But it’s our own fault for giving them the chance,” said Garcia, who was previously at Roma and Lille.
Lyon climbed to fourth earlier on Sunday with a 5-0 away win at promoted Troyes as Dutch striker Memphis Depay scored a second-half hat-trick.
The 23-year-old Depay joined Lyon in January 2017 from Manchester United and is finding his feet in France now that Lyon have sold Alexandre Lacazette to Arsenal.
The injured Mario Balotelli watched from the stands as Nice slumped to another defeat, going down 2-1 at home to Strasbourg.
The side who finished third last season are currently 14th and go to Paris Saint-Germain next Friday.
Monaco beat Caen 2-0 on Saturday with Ligue 1’s leading scorer Radamel Falcao netting a penalty for his 13th goal of the campaign to keep the pressure on the leaders
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