Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 6y

Angel Di Maria a 'complete' Neymar replacement - Real Madrid's Ramos

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has said Paris Saint-Germain may not miss the injured Neymar in Tuesday's Champions League clash because likely replacement Angel Di Maria is a "complete" player.

Neymar misses Tuesday's round-of-16 clash at the Parc des Princes, with Madrid holding a 3-1 lead, after undergoing surgery for a fracture of his fifth metatarsal.

Former Madrid winger Di Maria is widely expected to come into the PSG team in his place and, speaking at a prematch news conference, Ramos praised his ex-teammate.

"Neymar is a different player, but we know who can fill in for him," he said. "Di Maria is another great player, who helps more in defence and can do a very complete job."

Asked about PSG encouraging their ultra fans to create a fervent atmosphere, Ramos said Madrid had coped well in high-pressure situations in the past.

"Each one will try and destabilise things in whatever way they can," the Spain international said. "In these type of games we already know the kind of results we have had. It does not change anything for us.

"We will be fully focused and do the same as we did in our stadium. We have our weapons to qualify for the next round."

PSG sporting director Antero Henrique has called for "exceptional refereeing" amid a feeling his team had suffered from poor decisions in the first leg at the Bernabeu.

But ex-Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, now with PSG's rivals Marseille, criticised him for putting pressure on referee Felix Brych.

"Everyone looks after their own club," he told RMC radio. "I am not the one to tell PSG what to do, but Antero knows as well as I do that you cannot pressurise the referee in an interview."

Madrid have struggled in defence of their La Liga title this season, but ex-Blancos striker Davor Suker told Marca that the players were "triggered" into their best form by European nights.

"The Champions League is totally different," he said. "The hymn, the atmosphere... if Real Madrid are physically good, they can beat anyone.

"When they hear the hymn, their minds are triggered. Tuesday and Wednesday nights they play better, they understand the competition."

Madrid have won three of the last four Champions League titles, and Suker said: "It's not easy to be on top for so long, and the players know that.

"Many [others] want to knock them out of there. The difficult thing is to stay on top, and Real Madrid know how to do that."

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