MY ACCOUNT
Lionel Messi and Neymar were on target as Paris Saint-Germain thumped Nantes 4-0 to win the Trophee des Champions on Sunday.
Kylian Mbappe did not travel to Israel for the clash at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, but his absence was not felt as Christophe Galtier started his reign as PSG boss in style.
Messi set the Ligue 1 champions on their way in the 22nd minute with a cool finish, before Neymar doubled their advantage with a superb whipped free-kick from 25 yards on the stroke of half-time.
Sergio Ramos made it 3-0 shortly before the hour mark with an improvised finish, then Neymar claimed a second late on from the penalty spot after an incident that saw Jean-Charles Castelletto dismissed.
Achraf Hakimi and Pablo Sarabia went close for PSG inside the opening 10 minutes, while at the other end Ludovic Blas was superbly denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
PSG went ahead in the 22nd minute when Messi rounded Alban Lafont and slotted home after latching onto Neymar’s deflected throughball.
Lafont got down well to deny Messi a second shortly before the interval, yet Galtier’s men did go in at the break with a two-goal lead courtesy of Neymar’s sumptuous free-kick.
Ramos added a third in the 57th minute, the former Real Madrid defender superbly backheeling into the net after Lafont had kept out Sarabia’s initial effort.
Neymar scored his second in the 82nd minute with a calm penalty after he had been brought down in the area by Castelletto, who was shown a red card by referee Orel Grinfeeld.
What does it mean? PSG warm up for Ligue 1 title defence in style
Last season’s defeat to Lille saw PSG’s run of eight consecutive Trophee des Champions wins come to an abrupt end.
They got their hands back on the trophy, though, thanks to some typically brilliant moments from Messi and Neymar. Ligue 1 starts next weekend and defences across France have been warned.
Neymar shines
Neymar was in fine form, creating the first for Messi and then scoring two of his own – the first of which was a glorious free-kick. The Brazil superstar will be hoping for a more productive campaign in front of goal this time around after contributing just 13 goals last season.
Red card sums up Castelletto’s night
Castelletto was given a torrid time by PSG’s electric forward line and his game ended on a particularly sour note when he was dismissed for a clumsy foul on Neymar. The former Barcelona man added to the defender’s woes by casually stroking home the resulting spot-kick.
What’s next?
Both sides start their Ligue 1 campaigns next weekend, with PSG visiting Clermont on Saturday and Nantes away at Angers a day later.
