Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar ruled out of last-16 second-leg tie against Barcelona

French champions Paris Saint-Germain have included Neymar among the list of players to be ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 second-leg tie at home to Barcelona.

The 29-year-old forward had returned to partial training with the PSG squad last week, however, the club have confirmed the Brazil forward will continue his fitness work individually, meaning he misses out on facing his former club again.

A new assessment on Neymar’s status will be made by the club in the days to come, while teammates Juan Bernat and on-loan Everton forward Moise Kean, who remains in self-isolation due to Covid-19, will also be absent.

PSG could qualify to play in the quarter-finals if they avoid a repeat of the last time both sides met. The French champions currently hold a commanding 4-1 lead heading into the second leg at the Parc des Princes, thanks to a first-leg hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe and a goal from Kean when the sides met on February 16.

It leaves the Spanish giants requiring another monumental comeback heading into the second leg on Wednesday, four years on from the sides’ memorable last-16 clash in which the La Liga outfit recovered from a 4-0 first-leg loss in France by winning the second 6-1 at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona are also yet to concede a goal away from home in this season’s Champions League having played three times so far.

However, defeats to Juventus and PSG in their last two games in the competition points to the direction of a possible elimination and the prospect of losing three in a row in the European Cup/Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.