PSG-Augsburg: Paris awaits (impatiently) its executives

The preparation goes up a notch for PSG.

After having faced two residents of National at the Camp des Loges (4-0 victory against Le Mans, then a 2-2 draw against Chambly), Mauricio Pochettino's squad faced a tougher adversity this Wednesday evening, in Orléans , opposed to the Germans in Augsburg, 15th in the Bundesliga last season.

Still without many internationals, and de facto with a very rejuvenated team, the Parisians did not hide the doubts that hover ten days from facing Lille in Tel Aviv (Israel), for the Champions Trophy.

As against Chambly last weekend, the vice-champions of France did not know how to keep their clean sheet. They conceded several avoidable chances, with a pivot made up of Thilo Kehrer and young El Chadaille Bitshiabu in the first period, replaced by Abdou Diallo after the break. The former Dortmund player played the entire first half as a left-back and was one of the few satisfactions, in the absence of Bernat (knee) and Kurzawa, whose future is uncertain and who was absent at the Source stadium due to a blow to the calf. Goalkeeper Sergio Rico was not there, saved for a future start.

Today, the finding is clear.

The few executives present since the takeover (Navas, Kehrer, Diallo, Draxler, Gueye, Icardi) present disparate states of form.

Mauro Icardi, who scored in the first two friendlies, was silent this time around and was especially highlighted by his deflection play during the 45 minutes he played.

The young Xavi Simons, Bitshiabu and Gharbi show good things with each of their appearances, but, as soon as the level rises, it seems delicate to rely only on their spontaneity and carelessness.

Mbappé back this Thursday, Wijnaldum and Kimpembe too

This Wednesday evening, Draxler opened the scoring with a strike from the right into the small opposite net, on a good service from Dina Ebimbe shifted by Kalimuendo (1-0, 62nd). But the German, like many of his partners, did not always make the right choices. Keylor Navas, on the other hand, is already on his feet. The Costa Rican goalkeeper made two decisive stops against Niederlechner (18th, 66th) before losing to the same player, at close range, after a duel, in the air, lost by Thilo Kehrer (1-1, 66th) . He sent very positive signals as fierce competition looms with the Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma, recent European champion and best player of the Euro.

PSG could have left Orleans with a defeat on Cordova's shot pushed back by the post (89th). Captain Gouweleeuw's self-defeating goal finally allowed him to win over the wire (2-1, 90 '). A rise in power is expected this Saturday, still in Orleans, against Genoa, before going to Faro (Portugal) next Tuesday for a final preparation match against Sevilla. Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Ramos, in particular, are expected on the pre soon. The good news comes from Kylian Mbappé's return to training on Thursday. The French striker will be accompanied by Presnel Kimpembe, Danilo Pereira and Dutch rookie Georginio Wijnaldum, who have also finished their leave.