PSG secure comfortable Super Cup victory
Monaco were no match for PSG as the French champions romped to a 4-0 victory in the Trophée des Champions match, played in Shenzhen, China.
The stadium was a sea of club shirts, including a sizeable Juventus contingent who were presumably there to see Gigi Buffon in action for his new club. However, the star of the show was conspicuous by his absence - Neymar started the game from the bench.
Christopher Nkunku and Timothy Weah both made the scoresheet after being chosen to start by Thomas Tuchel, but it was the higher-profile Angel di Maria who began and ended the scoring. Much was made of PSG’s players returning from World Cup duty, but aside from Di Maria - whose Argentina side made an early exit at the hands of France - only Thiago Silva started the game.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid man fired home a lovely free-kick on the half hour mark, to the delight of the Chinese fans. He grabbed his second goal of the game with the final kick, firing across Diego Benaglio who played in place of Subasic in the Monaco net.
In between these two strikes, it was the turn of the youngsters. Christopher Nkunku tapped home before half time with the ball laid up to him on a plate, before Tim Weah sparked the game back into life just as it was threatening to fizzle out.
Weah had said earlier in the week he wanted to shake the constant comparisons to his father, George. A good start on that front from the young American.
Neymar did eventually make his appearance on the pitch. With 15 minutes to go he was brought on for a brief cameo, five months after his last appearance for his club.
It is the 6th year in a row in which PSG have brought home the annual curtain-raiser, and on today’s evidence they should have few problems retaining the league and cup trophies that they brought back to the Parc des Princes either.