Messi, Neymar, Mbappe score in PSG rout of Japanese team
Lionel Messi, Neymar Junior and Killian Mbappe were among the scorers for Paris Saint German (PSG), as they wound up their 10-day pre-season tour of Japan with a 6-2 win over Gamba Osaka FC on Monday.
The friendly took place at Suita City Football Stadium, where the French Ligue 1 champions made eight changes to the starting XI, with Messi recalled, and Killian Mbappe dropped to the bench.
The French side started the friendly like a house on fire, going ahead in the 28th minute when Pabio Sarabia found the back of the net.
Moments later, Neymar doubled the lead from the penalty spot at the half-hour mark, according to PSG’s Twitter handle live updates.
Roared on by the home crowd, Osaka pulled one goal back through Keisuke Kurokawa, only for the visitors to double their lead via Nuno Mendes’s effort.
Three goals for PSG soon became four when Messi found the back of the net with a right-footed finish in what proved to be the final highlight of the opening half.
Neymar added his second goal of the day and PSG’s fifth in the 60th minute, only for Osaka to crawl back some respectability to the score line after netting their second goal courtesy of Hiroto Yamami.
Striker Mbappe came off the bench to replace Sarabia before scoring PSG’s final goal from the penalty spot four minutes to full-time.
PSG now head back home to kick start the new season in which they seek to defend the domestic league title and also fight for honours in the Uefa Champions League.
PSG arrived in Japan last week for the pre-season tour under new boss Christophe Galtier who replaced Mauricio Pochettino months ago.
PSG kicked off the tour with a 2-1 win over Kawasaki Frontare, then beat Urawa Reds 3-0 on Saturday before taking on Osaka.
Starting XI:
Osaka: Higashguchi, Fukuoka, Shoji, Miura, Onose, Dawhan, Kurarta, Krokawa, Ishige, Meshino, Suzuki.
PSG: Donnarumma, Kimpembe, Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos, Mendes, Vitinha, Verratti, Hakimi, Neymar, Messi, Sarabi
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