EAST RUTHERFORD: Two sublime goals from Neymar gave Barcelona a 2-1 win over Juventus in front of an 82,000 crowd at MetLife Stadium in the International Champions Cup on Saturday.

Neymar, who is rumoured to be a transfer target of Paris St Germain, put on a master class alongside Lionel Messi as Barce­lona turned the tables on the Italian side who knocked them out of last season’s Champions League quarter-finals.

Neymar opened the scoring in the 15th minute, the Brazilian playing a smart one-two with Paco Alcacer before curling high past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon into the top right corner.

The Brazilian then doubled Barca’s lead 11 minutes later with a world-class goal. Taking a pass from Messi on the left, Neymar slithered past three lunging Juventus defenders as he weaved his way across the box before wrong-footing Buffon and slamming a right-footed shot into the net.

Neymar and Messi gave way at half-time, while Juventus also made several changes in the second half.

The Serie A champions posed more of an attacking threat after the break and pulled a goal back in the 61st minute when Paulo Dybala’s corner was headed home by Giorgio Chiellini.

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri was impressed by Neymar.

“He played a fabulous game,” Allegri told reporters. “Along with Messi, they are tremendous talents and you could see that on the pitch.”

Neymar left the stadium in New Jersey without saying anything to reporters, allowing speculation he will imminently join PSG for 220 million euros ($253 million) to persist, while Barca coach Ernesto Valverde could only repeat his desire to keep the Brazilian.

“We want Neymar to be with us,” Valverde said. “We know the importance he has in our game, our dressing room, the team dynamic, and we want him with us. It’s clear.”

PSG IMPLODE AGAINST SPURS

PSG are also featuring in the pre-season tournament in the United State and along with Neymar, they also remain confident of landing Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez.

Coach Unai Emery, speaking after the French champions imploded in a 4-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday’s other game in Orlando, however was giving nothing away when asked about the potential transfers.

“We are always looking for players who can help the team,” he said. “Now for us the most important thing is to concentrate on the matches we have coming up [in the International Champions Cup].”

Harry Kane’s late penalty helped Spurs start their pre-season preparations in emphatic fashion with PSG reduced to 10 men just moments into the second half when German goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, who had endured an awful first 45 minutes, was sent off for handballing outside of the box.

And although Emery’s side were difficult to break down, late strikes from Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld and Kane, both on as substitutes, sealed a 4-2 triumph in front of 33,332 fans at the Camping World Stadium.

PSG went ahead on six minutes when Adrien Rabiot crossed to Edinson Cavani for a quick goal.

Tottenham looked culpable defensively, yet just five minutes later, Christian Eriksen pulled the Premier League side level. The Danish international unleashed an unstoppable, curling effort from 30 yards which flew past Kevin Trapp into the top corner.

Three minutes later, Spurs went ahead when Trapp’s poor clearance was hit straight at Erik Dier who gleefully saw the ball rebound over the line.

PSG levelled through Javier Pastore’s close range strike on 36 minutes but paid for their sloppiness in the second half with Kane sealing the triumph after Blaise Matuidi handled in the box six minutes after Alderweireld’s fantastic 20-yard strike in the 82nd.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2017