Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe train with PSG ahead of Rennes game - in pictures

Ligue 1 leaders take on Rennes on Friday followed by Real Madrid in the Champions League next week

Neymar jokes around with Lionel Messi during training on Thursday, February 10, 2022, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 game at home to Rennes. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Neymar during training ahead of their game against Rennes on Friday, February 11. AFP

PSG forward Kylian Mbappe during a training session at Camp des Loges near Paris. AFP

PSG players at training ahead of their game with Rennes. AFP

Neymar and Lionel Messi fool around at training watched by Leandro Paredes. AFP

PSG's Lionel Messi heads the ball during training. AFP

PSG attackers Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe during training. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar on the floor next to Lionel Messi. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti controls the ball during training. AFP

PSG forward Kylian Mbappe. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar and Lionel Messi. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino. AFP

Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria, Neymar and Lionel Messi at training. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar attempts a tackle. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi heads the ball as Marco Verratti Lionel Messi look on. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar and Lionel Messi. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Nuno Mendes, Danilo Pereira and Julian Draxler training with teammates. AFP

PSG defender Achraf Hakimi. AFP

PSG's Lionel Messi chats with manager Mauricio Pochettino. AFP

PSG's Lionel Messi during training. Reuters

Neymar continued his comeback from injury as he trained with his Paris Saint-Germain teammates on Thursday ahead of their Ligue 1 game against Rennes.

The Brazilian has not played since damaging his left ankle during the win against Saint-Etienne in late November and is closing in on a return to action.

Sergio Ramos also trained on Thursday but neither the veteran defender nor Neymar will play in Friday's game.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino said of the 30-year-old Brazilian forward Neymar: “His progress is very good.”

Table-topping PSG lead second-place Marseille by 13 points with 15 games to play. Rennes — who were the last team to beat PSG in the league, winning 2-0 way back on October 3 — are a further six points back.

Last Sunday, PSG trounced reigning champions Lille 5-1 with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe among the goals.

The Parisians take on Ramos' former club Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 first-leg clash at Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

“Football is a game of emotions, when you have created those positive emotions it is much easier to prepare for and perform in the next game,” Pochettino said. “The healthiest way to prepare for the Champions League game is to win tomorrow.”