The fans returned to the court in France and saw an exhibition by Icardi and Neymar for PSG

07/12/2020 - 17:53

• Clarín.com
• sports

Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, Mauro Icardi and Ángel Di María shone for PSG on their return to activity, after four months of stoppage due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was in a friendly match against Le Havre, from the Second Division, with a win by 9-0 and just over 5,000 spectators in the stadium . Yes, the fans had the pleasure of encouraging their club again.

It was the first public match in one of the top five countries in European football: Spain, Italy, England, France and Germany. And the number of spectators was limited to the top of the French government protocol, in a stadium that can hold 25,000 spectators.

In Le Havre, the authorities allowed the opening of doors, limited and reduced. For this reason, the five thousand fans, equipped with chinstraps, gloves and respecting social distancing, were distributed in the stands.

The funny thing is that France was the only country in the "Big Five" that decided to suspend its competition permanently. And unlike the remaining four, when he returns to official activity, he will do so with an audience in his stands .

"The sensation of playing a final, a knot in the stomach", confessed on Instagram the Brazilian Neymar, author of a double (at 21 minutes, with both a pure gambeta; and at 42 minutes, penalty), and a of the great figures in this essay.

@PSG_espanol played a friendly with amateurspic.twitter.com/XMCUcyJT7x

Quel sensation de pouvoir rejouer au football !!! 🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/xz1p8S2fly

"Now it's really ... we're back," Mbappé tweeted before the game against Le Havre. The four members of the offensive power of the team showed that they have not rusted during the stop. With 45 brilliant minutes and pure exhibition, they beat the French Second Division team.

Mauro Icardi, indisputable after the recent departure of Edinson Cavani, also scored a double: at 7 minutes and at 19, opening the account for Parisians.

Neymar celebrates a goal with people in the stands.Photo: AFP

The grandstands at the top of the stadium were empty. Spectators had to wear face masks to enter the venue, although many took them off after sitting in their seats. Families and friends got together in groups, but the groups kept their distance.

The ball rangers wore chinstraps and gloves. The messages on the speakers recalled respecting social distancing. The photographers had to enter the field with their shoes on trays with disinfectants.

PSG beat Le Havre 9-0 in a friendly against the public.Photo: AFP

In their attire, PSG players displayed the phrases "Tous unis" '(All united) and "Merci' '(Thank you) as a gesture of thanks to the health personnel.

The formal rehearsal helped PSG to get ready and focus on the Champions League quarterfinals, when they meet the Italian Atalanta in the quarterfinals. Before, the Parisian team will play two finals in July: the Coupe de France (on 24) and the League Cup, on 31.

These trophies, which PSG will play in a few games, will come without a competitive shoot, due to the fact that the French league decided to definitively suspend Ligue 1 due to the spread of the coronavirus.

At Le Havre, Paris Saint Germain coach Thomas Tuchel opted for different teams on each side, making it clear that the most important thing for the Parisian team is to avoid injury before the moment of truth.

Mbappé showed his great speed in his goal (at 29 minutes) and Di María, who did not score, could also be seen at a great level with two luxury assists: one for Icardi and the other for Neymar. Another who saw action from the start was Leandro Paredes, although he did not have much impact on the game. 

Icardi and Mbappé celebrate a PSG goal.Photo: EFE

PSG beat Le Havre 9-0 in a friendly against the public Photo: Reuters

In the second part, the Parisian substitutes, in addition to Marco Verratti, Thiago Silva and Pablo Sarabia, author of another double, continued the festival with four other goals.

"I am glad that football in France can return in a popular way, with an audience in the stadiums," said the delegate minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, from the stadium, without excluding an increase in the number of authorized spectators in the coming weeks. .