Al-Hilal's Neymar Expected to Miss Two Weeks with Injury

Brazil's Neymar waves to fans during a training session in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP)
Brazil's Neymar waves to fans during a training session in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP)
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Al-Hilal's Neymar Expected to Miss Two Weeks with Injury

Brazil's Neymar waves to fans during a training session in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP)
Brazil's Neymar waves to fans during a training session in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP)

Al-Hilal's Neymar is expected to miss two weeks with an injury.

Neymar made just his second appearance for the Saudi club following a 12-month injury layoff by coming on as a substitute in the 58th minute of Al-Hilal's 3-0 win over Esteghlal of Iran in the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday.

The former Barcelona star then pulled up after stretching for the ball with three minutes remaining and had to be replaced.

“Unfortunately, it is not a simple injury and he seems to be suffering from muscle pain and it is not a knee issue,” Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus said Wednesday in a press conference in Riyadh. “He is expected to be out for two weeks.”

Neymar took to social media to update his fans.

“Hopefully nothing too much...” he wrote. “It’s normal that after one year (out) this happens, the doctors had already warned me, so I have to be careful and play more minutes.”

Neymar has played just seven games for the 19-time Saudi champion since signing in August 2023.

He is not currently registered to play domestic league games as the club has a full contingent of 10 foreign players, but is allowed to play in continental competitions.

A new registration window opens in January.



Man City Blows 3-Goal Lead and Gets Booed by Fans in Draw with Feyenoord in Champions League

 Soccer Football - Champions League - Manchester City v Feyenoord - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 26, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Champions League - Manchester City v Feyenoord - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 26, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts. (Reuters)
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Man City Blows 3-Goal Lead and Gets Booed by Fans in Draw with Feyenoord in Champions League

 Soccer Football - Champions League - Manchester City v Feyenoord - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 26, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Champions League - Manchester City v Feyenoord - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 26, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts. (Reuters)

Manchester City’s players were booed by their own fans Tuesday after blowing a three-goal lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League to extend their winless run to six games.

Jeers rang around the Etihad Stadium after the final whistle of a dramatic 3-3 draw.

“They are disappointed. Of course we understand it,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “They are completely right to express what they feel.”

After five-straight losses in all competitions, City looked to be cruising to victory after going three up inside 50 minutes. But Feyenoord mounted an improbable comeback and leveled the game in the 89th to leave the home crowd stunned.

While the worst losing streak of Guardiola’s managerial career was brought to an end, his wait for a first win since Oct. 26 goes on.

Erling Haaland had scored twice, with Ilkay Gundogan also on target to put City in control. But goals from Anis Hadj Moussa in the 75th, Santiago Gimenez in the 82nd and David Hancko in the 89th turned the game on its head.

According to stats supplier Opta, it was the first time in Guardiola's managerial career that his team had failed to win a game after leading 3-0. It said it was the first time City had failed to win from that position since 1989.

“We lost a lot of games lately, we are fragile and of course we need a victory,” Guardiola said. “The game was good for the confidence, we were playing a good level, but the first time something happened we had problems.”

A win would have moved City up to fifth in the Champions League standings, but the draw left it 15th with three games remaining in the first phase of the competition.

The top eight teams advance to the round of 16, while teams ranked ninth to 24th go into a playoff.

City’s players, including Bernardo Silva, Josko Gvardiol and Haaland looked visibly frustrated as they left the field to cheers from the delirious traveling Dutch fans in the away section of the stadium.

“If you are 3-0 up at home you can never give it away like this. It is what it is at the moment. The only thing we can do is fight back and stay strong,” City defender Nathan Ake said.

City plays Premier League leader Liverpool on Sunday — defeat would leave it 11 points adrift of its title rival.

“We will learn for the future. It has been and will be a tough season for us and we have to accept it,” said Guardiola, who had a cut on his nose during the game. He said it had been caused when he scratched it with his fingernail.