Zinedine Zidane 'hopes Neymar faces Real Madrid'

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has claimed that he is hopeful of Paris Saint-Germain attacker Neymar recovering from an ankle injury in time for the Champions League last-16 second leg between the two teams.

Neymar was stretchered off with an ankle injury during PSG's 3-0 win over Marseille on Sunday night, and the Brazilian is believed to be a doubt for the European clash in Paris on March 6.

Zidane, however, wants the 26-year-old, who has scored 29 times in 29 appearances for his Ligue 1 club this season, to be fit and available for the second leg early next month.

"I want Neymar to return in time for our game," Zidane told reporters. "I never want to see any player injured and I hope he will be back in time to face us and recover from his injury."

PSG boss Unai Emery said that he was "optimistic" that Neymar would be available to face Real Madrid when questioned on the issue.

Real Madrid will travel to Paris with a 3-1 advantage from the first leg of their last-16 tie.