At the Parc des Princes ,
The PSG continues, and slowly increases in power. After his card at Le Havre (L2) last weekend (9-0 victory), Thomas Tuchel's team quietly disposed of Waasland-Bereven, last in the Belgian championship in 2019-20, this Friday at the Parc des Princes, as a friend. 7-0 victory for the Red and Blue, after a singular opposition of ... 120 minutes (four 30-minute quarters). In fact, we mostly saw two separate games, with an eleven for the first hour of play and a second after that. The Ultras, for their part, sang for 120 minutes without interrupting. No rest time on their side…
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Neymar makes the show
It should be noted that Thiago Silva, Marco Verratti and Idrissa Gueye started, they who were replacements in Normandy. Layvin Kurzawa was back in the group, unlike Abdou Diallo (cover) and Juan Bernat (household). And as at the Océane stadium, we mostly saw the offensive stars in their works, notably a rare Kylian Mbappé. It was the world champion who closed the scoring at the very end of the first hour. More clumsy than during their first exit in front of the goal, the Parisians opened the scoring on a goal against his camp, before a penalty from Neymar and another transformed by Mauro Icardi. Although, it was "Ney" who pulled him, to better leave room for the Argentinian, unhappy in his attempts so far. It is also on this second penalty that the Belgians received a red card. They were nevertheless able to play the second hour at eleven. Still, we saw Parisians a bit less serious than facing the HAC, like Neymar, "very happy" to find the Park but who did not appreciate the sometimes rough contacts imposed by his opponents ... Suddenly, he got his revenge with grigris. We also saw several actions where it was more a question of feasting on friends than playing fair. A little ease ... Never mind, the champions of France have still garnered confidence and especially rhythm, one week before the final of the Coupe de France against AS Saint-Etienne, next Friday in Saint -Denis.
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The first important deadline of the summer, before the final of the League Cup against Olympique Lyonnais (July 31), and of course the Final 8 of the Champions League. Appointment is made on August 12, in Lisbon, for the quarter against the Italians of Atalanta Bergamo, the team in form in Serie A.
"Choupo-Motinginho"
In the meantime, it's still time for the test gallops, with another friendly to play against Celtic Glasgow, next Tuesday, still at the Parc des Princes. This Friday, against Beveren, we saw the second team, led by Presnel Kimpembe, continue the work initiated by the stars. A defense-attack, including a double in Brazilian sauce signed Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in a handful of minutes. Loïc Mbe Soh then added his name to the list of Parisian goal scorers of the day, under the sun of this beautiful early summer evening, in a Park whose surroundings were obviously much quieter than usual. So it was even possible to park a few tens of meters from the stadium. Regulars of this neighborhood in the 16th arrondissement must have appreciated.
All in a relaxed and festive atmosphere, with 5,000 people in the stands. Including a thousand Ultras, who set them on fire as they know how to do from Auteuil. By also forgetting the rules in terms of social distancing ... 5,000 privileged people - including some forty journalists - who were able to reinvest the stands in the Parc des Princes for the first time since the cut related to the coronavirus. The Collectif Ultras Paris also paid tribute to the nursing staff (200 of whom were invited for this part by the club), with a minute of applause and a banner ("Thank you to the hospital staff"), who many struggled during confinement for these same caregivers, everywhere in Ile-de-France and even beyond. They will once again be able to push their protégés in their quest for the title against “Sainté” and Lyon, but probably not in Lisbon. Until further notice, the Final 8 of the C1 must indeed take place behind closed doors… In the meantime, this second rehearsal is generally positive, with no new injuries, even if Thomas Tuchel will no doubt demand more serious next Tuesday against Celtic . Besides, the level of the opposition helping, the players should raise themselves their level for this third friendly match. Then finish laughing…
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