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Draxler stops PSG winless run as Neymar misses first of 2

PSG Neymar

Paris Saint-Germain’s German midfielder Julian Draxler (L) is congratulated by Paris Saint-Germain’s Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera at the end of the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Metz, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on September 16, 2020. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

Julian Draxler’s reactive header made sure Paris Saint-Germain’s winless start to the Ligue 1 season did not reach three games.

Draxler’s goal in the third minute of stoppage time lifted PSG past Metz on Wednesday, giving the UEFA Champions League finalists some good news on a day it learned Neymar would miss two games.

Neymar was suspended for his role in a brawl with Marseille at the weekend and the Ligue de Football Professionnel is investigating his claims of racial abuse from Alvaro Gonzalez, who he hit in the head.

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PSG is backing its star, who reproached Gonzalez earlier this week for claiming innocence after sparking a brawl at the weekend.

Draxler, 26, is in his fifth season with Les Parisiens after starting his career with Schalke and Wolfsburg in his native Germany. The goal was his first since a French Cup marker against lower-tier side Villefranche on Feb. 6, 2019.

PSG is now 1W-2L after three matches, all without Kylian Mbappe who tested positive for COVID-19 and is said to be requesting a transfer by the end of next summer’s transfer window. A trip to Patrick Vieira’s 2W-1L Nice comes Sunday.