As PSG begin their pre-season over in Spain away to RCD Mallorca in pre-season, we preview what the game may look like and what the fans can perhaps expect.
Tonight (Wednesday the 5th of August) PSG begin their pre-season away in Spain against recently relegated RCD Mallorca, with the game set to kick off at 21:00 CET, and be shown on Bein Sports.
With the UEFA Super Cup against Aston Villa just seven days away, this is one of only two friendlies that Luis Enrique's side will play, with a game against Premier League side Manchester United pencilled in for this weekend. More on that closer to the time.
So, what can we expect from this game over in sunny Spain?
Earlier on today, PSG confirmed the squad travelling over, with as many as 15 academy players involved, all of whom will be eager to take their chance and to impress the gaffer.
Meanwhile, the first teamers involved are; Lucas Beraldo, Ilya Zabarnyi, Khvicha Kvartskhelia, Senny Mayulu, Dro Fernandez, Lucas Chevalier, Matvey Safonov, Ibrahim Mbaye and Willian Pacho. Quentin Ndjantou can probably be put into that category too.
So, essentially, it is either the players who did not go to the World Cup (Berlado, Zabarnyi Kvaratskhelia, Mayulu, Fernandez, Chevalier, Safonov, Ndjantou), or those that were knocked out in the round of 32, over a month ago now (Mbaye, Pacho).
Zabarnyi and Mbaye are both involved despite links to Premier League side Liverpool in the past few days, which is certainly worth keeping an eye on over the coming days and weeks. Even in a friendly, it will be great to see Kvaratskhelia playing again. With the World Cup taking up all or most of our consciousness this summer, it is easy to forget how fun it is to watch him play football. A magician at work.
There is a fair possibility that the squad for the game with Villa next week does not actually look a whole lot different. Earlier on today, French journalist Fabrice Hawkins reported (via PSG Report) that the French internationals will resume training next week.
So, assuming that is Monday, that would be a maximum of two days training, and having missed both of the pre-season games. Well, maybe they could make it to the squad, but the starting XI definitely feels unlikely.
Not the most ideal preparation for a season, but this was always going to happen with the World Cup. It was not great this time last year either, and well, things turned out just fine in the end. Let's see what happens.
