Zidane hopes Neymar overcomes injury to face Real

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is hoping Paris St Germain forward Neymar recovers from injury for the return leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on March 6. The world's most expensive player was seen crying as he was carried off towards the end of PSG's 3-0 win over Olympique de Marseille on Sunday, meaning his side had to play the remainder of the game with 10 men as they had used all three substitutes. PSG coach Unai Emery said he wanted to be optimistic that his 222m euro ($273m) signing would be available to face Real as the French league leaders bid to overcome a 3-1 deficit to avoid an early exit from the tournament.

Zinédine Zidane ne se réjouit pas de la blessure de Neymar https://t.co/QrFNK1xDge pic.twitter.com/lgsQ0RtYBH

— L'ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) February 26, 2018

"I don't like to see players get injured and I hope he can be back for the game, I never want a player to miss a game due to injury," Zidane told a news conference ahead of his side's Liga game against Espanyol on Tuesday. "I don't think it (the injury) will have a big influence on the game, as there will always be someone who can play instead of him. I was watching the game and I was sad when he (Neymar) got injured." Neymar posted a picture of his heavily bandaged ankle on Instagram on Monday but did not comment on the extend of the injury.

It looked pretty bad at first, but Unai Emery is optimistic that Neymar will be ready for Real Madrid in 10 days ? pic.twitter.com/3Hduw2cORv

— Goal UK (@GoalUK) February 26, 2018

The Brazilian has scored 28 times and provided 16 assists for PSG this season, although he gave a disappointing display against Real at the Bernabeu two weeks ago. Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain vs Olympique de Marseille - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - February 25, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar lies on the pitch after sustaining an injury against Olympic de Marseille during their La Liga match at Parc des Princes, Paris, France on Sunday