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'Executioner' Neymar hailed by Brazil's media

Xinhua, April 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Neymar was hailed in Brazil as Paris Saint-Germain's "executioner" on Tuesday after his two goals against the French outfit guaranteed Barcelona's passage to the Champions League semifinals.

The 23-year-old took his Champions League tally against Laurent Blanc's team to five from four matches this season as Barcelona won 2-0 at Parc des Princes, completing a 5-1 aggregate victory in the quarterfinal.

"Neymar again showed that he likes to be the executioner of PSG," the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper said.

Neymar owed much of his man-of-the-match performance to Andres Iniesta and Daniel Alves.

Iniesta set up the first goal after just 13 minutes when he ghosted past the hosts' defence before playing a deft through pass to Neymar, who slid the ball into an empty net after rounding goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

The second came after his compatriot Alves swung in a precise cross that Neymar expertly nodded into the bottom corner.

"[Neymar] was gifted the goals by Iniesta and Alves," Globoesporte said.

According to Estado de S.Paulo, the Brazilian allowed Barcelona to treat most of the match like a friendly.

"The fact he [Neymar] scored twice in the first 33 minutes meant the rest of the game was like a luxury friendly for Barcelona," the newspaper said. "Barcelona began to play as if it were a training session, free of any worries." Endi