By Zach Lowy
Identical to they did in Bavaria, the place they scored twice inside the first 20 minutes, Les Parisiens dominated proceedings and prevented their opponent from advancing into enemy territory due to a ruthless counter-pressing strategy in addition to exact and fluid passing interchanges, always menacing a Miami protection that was hanging on for pricey life from begin to end.
The French champions took the lead after six minutes as João Neves sprinted from the sting of the field into the close to submit and latched onto Vitinha’s free kick with a bullet header. Neves accomplished 53 out of 56 passes (three out of three lengthy balls and 7 passes into the ultimate third), gained two out of two floor duels, and made 5 recoveries, while each of his pictures ended up at the back of the web. PSG doubled the lead within the thirty ninth minute as Fabián Ruiz robbed Sergio Busquets of possession, combining with Bradley Barcola earlier than teeing up Neves, who coolly slotted residence. From that time onwards, the levees had given option to PSG’s attacking tsunami, with Luis Enrique’s aspect including two extra objectives earlier than halftime to consolidate the 4-0 victory.
It was one more world-class show from Neves, who gained FotMob’s Participant of the Match award in addition to the extra official Michelob Extremely Superior Participant of the Match award. While Inter Miami’s eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi was saved off the rating sheet, Neves turned the primary non-French participant since Messi in October 2022 to attain a brace for PSG in a world membership competitors. It was one more reminder of why the Portuguese teenager belongs within the dialog for one of the best box-to-box midfielder in world soccer alongside the likes of Federico Valverde, Nicolò Barella, Declan Rice, Frenkie de Jong and Joshua Kimmich.
Regardless of being simply 20 years of age, Neves performs soccer with an class and knowledge way more befitting of a participant 10 years his senior, extricating himself from congested areas with ease and setting the bar for the remainder of his teammates with an unimaginable diligence and aggression out of possession. Whether or not he’s difficult for an lengthy ball or lunging in for a last-ditch sort out, Neves reveals no worry in any respect, rating third in PSG’s squad for blocks per 90 (0.4) and interceptions per 90 (1.1) within the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season in addition to fourth for profitable tackles per 90 (1.5). And regardless of standing simply 5’9”, Neves has made aerial duels one among his fortes, successful 64.7% of his aerial battles (22 in whole).
Chatting with FotMob after the match, Neves admitted, “More often than not, I attempt to bounce and anticipate the play earlier than my opponent can accomplish that, which reveals that it’s not all about dimension. I believe that’s what I attempt to do, maybe as a result of I had so many difficulties competing in aerial duels once I was rising up, however with the quantity of instances that I’ve labored on it in coaching classes and video games, I’m persevering with to enhance and proceed to see how I will be even higher in that regard.”
Born in Tavira, Portugal, Neves spent a decade in Benfica’s youth improvement system earlier than making his first-team debut on January 1, 2023. He instantly turned one of many first names on the group sheet beneath Roger Schmidt, filling Enzo Fernández’s artistic void following his switch to Chelsea, relegating Florentino Luís to the bench, and proving very important as Benfica eked out their first league title in 4 years. Neves confirmed these optimistic sensations in 2023/24, successful the Liga Portugal Midfielder of the Month on six out of seven events and incomes a spot within the Liga Portugal Staff of the Season.
It was sufficient to see PSG purchase him for €59.9 million plus €10 million in potential add-ons, sending Renato Sanches the opposite method on mortgage. Neves didn’t take lengthy to make that appear a discount, setting a Ligue 1 document for probably the most assists (4) in his first two matches and turning into a significant cog of PSG’s midfield trio alongside Fabián and Vitinha.
“Neves doesn’t lead any of the massive metrics for midfielders, however he’s extraordinarily good on the ball and performs with no worry when having to make a sort out or win an aerial duel,” acknowledged Ethan, a lifelong PSG supporter from Boise, Idaho. “His largest belongings are his technical capability and his braveness and tenacity. He dribbles very nicely however typically hyperlinks up with our attackers extra typically within the closing third as a consequence of enjoying larger up the pitch than Vitinha, who’s often the deepest midfielder, while Ruiz doesn’t contribute defensively anyplace close to as a lot as Neves.”
“You can make the argument that Neves is our most balanced participant in all the squad; he’s relegated Warren Zaïre-Emery to the bench due to his superior attacking menace, and he’s arguably nearly as good as peak Marco Verratti. Verratti was my favourite participant of the QSI period, however Neves is much better than he ever was within the air and closing third…if he’s not there but, he shall be by the point he’s 23.”
Over the previous six months, João Neves has gained the Ligue 1 championship, the Coupe de France, the Trophée des Champions and the UEFA Champions League with PSG, in addition to the UEFA Nations League with Portugal, and he’ll be looking for so as to add one more piece of silverware this month. PSG will face German champions Bayern Munich in Atlanta on Saturday in a rematch of their first-ever Champions League Remaining. They’ve an opportunity to not solely avenge their 2020 defeat, but in addition arrange a semifinal showdown with both Actual Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Paris Saint-Germain have already established themselves because the kings of Europe – however can they affirm their standing because the kings of the world? Anticipate Neves to play his half as PSG pursue a date with future.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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