On the pre-season Asian tour of the psg and al nassrboth teams met in Japan to open a series of friendlies that they will have, each on their own, in the country of the rising sun.
In the match held at the Yanmar stadium in Nagai, in Osaka, in western Japan, the team led by Cristiano Ronaldo and the Frenchman who kept on the bench neymar and, for this tour, he did without his figure Kylian Mbappédrew 0-0 in a game that was dominated by Paris Saint-Germain, although the most dangerous plays were generated by the Saudis.
For the match, Luis Enrique, the brand new coach of the Parisian club, opted for a 4-3-3 with Carlos Soler, Asensio and Lemina as the most advanced players, leaving Neymar on the bench.
Soler himself tested goalkeeper Al-Aquidi with a free-kick as soon as the game began, in a start in which PSG put pressure on the Saudi team and locked them in their area, although without much danger.
But Al Nassr managed to recover as the minutes passed and I was always looking for Cristiano with long balls or balls. The Portuguese was capable of disturbing with his repertoire of headers or overhead kicks, all of them celebrated by an audience dedicated to the former Real Madrid soccer player, despite the fact that they did not end up at the back of the net.
But the Saudi club also showed that it has more arguments than just its “Commander” and incisive Talisca and Ghareeb appeared on the scene on the wings, the recently signed Seko Fofana and Brozovic imposing their physicality in the midfield and a defense capable of containing the onslaught of the Parisians throughout the game.
In fact, With a great save Donnarumma prevented Al-Nassr from getting ahead in a shot from Cristiano on the edge of the six-yard boxwhich was the clearest chance of scoring in the first half.
Luis Castro’s pupils even came to dispute possession against PSG in the second half and create danger both in long plays and in counterattacks, against some Parisians who moved the ball slowly, but without seeing the goal.
Towards the middle of the second part, both Luis Enrique and Castro completely renewed their eleven, leaving the Portuguese out to his compatriot Cristiano and the Spanish coach bringing on Ethan Mbappé, Kylian’s little brother and only 16 years old, and without giving Neymar a minute.
PSG pressed in the final stretch but could not do it clearly, despite the fresh players. The match ended 0-0 and with many Parisian fans missing their figure Kylian Mbappé and wondering about his future.
PSG will face Cerezo Osaka in the same Japanese city this Friday and Inter Milan in Tokyo next Tuesday, before traveling to South Korea for another friendly against Jeonbuk.
For his part, Al Nassr will face Inter in Osaka this Thursday.
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