Friendly: Disappointing PSG held in check by Sturm Graz

A dull return match for Paris Saint-Germain. Not convincing in the game, the Parisians, deprived of many of their players, drew (2-2) against Sturm Graz in Klagenfurt, this Wednesday. If the three new recruits Matvey Safonov, Joao Neves and Gabriel Moscardo were able to make their debuts, PSG also lost Lucas Beraldo, injured in the ankle and limped off after half an hour of play. Against the Austrian club, Luis Enrique had decided to line up an ultra-attacking midfield three with Kang-In Lee, Marco Asensio and Carlos Soler, who even inherited the captain’s armband. At the front, the former Barcelona player chose to trust Gonçalo Ramos by shifting Randal Kolo Muani to the right side and starting the young Ibrahim Mbaye (16 years old) on the left wing.

The Parisians had made a fantastic start to the match with an early opening goal from a cross-shot at the near post by Mbaye (1-0, 9th). Before doubling the lead, three minutes later, through Carlos Soler (2-0, 12th), served alone in the middle of the area after a lot of work by Randal Kolo Muani on his right side. The Austrian reaction was not long in coming, however. After a crude loss of the ball by the young Naoufel El Hannach, Amady Camara, alone in front of Matvey Safonov, adjusted the Russian goalkeeper with his left foot to reduce the score (2-1, 15th). After the Austrian goal, the Parisians completely lost control of the match. Just before the break, Christian Ilzer’s men even managed to get back into the game through Oter Kiteishvili (2-2, 43rd). Alone 20 metres out, the Georgian unleashed a heavy low shot which landed in the back of the Parisian goalkeeper’s net, who was not exempt from any criticism for the goal.

First appearances for new recruits

After the break, Sturm Graz, who will play in the Europa League this season, had an almost total turnover of their eleven, unlike Luis Enrique who did not change anything at half-time. Lacking technical mastery but also rhythm against the Austrians, who were already playing their tenth preparation match, Milan Skriniar’s teammates did almost nothing after the break. The biggest situation of this second period was surely the entry of a supporter onto the pitch which caused a steward to fall under the hilarious gaze of Stefan Ebner, the match referee. The return to business of Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaire-Emery (who came on in the 72nd minute) did not change anything. Willing but too messy, the French internationals did not manage to turn the match around.

This draw, far from being dramatic given the strengths present on the Parisian side, still leaves one perplexed. Nine days before the start of the championship, Luis Enrique’s men would surely have wanted to start their post-Kylian Mbappé era with a victory on Austrian soil. The real black spot of this evening for the Red and Blue remains, however, the injury of Lucas Beraldo, in a position where Paris Saint-Germain does not have a plethora of credible solutions, but which will be compensated by the scheduled arrival of Willian Pacho, from Frankfurt. PSG’s next friendly match will be held this Saturday 10 against RB Leipzig in Germany.