PSG International Break Round Up: Productive Thursday Evening

With this extended international break, the games are coming thick and fast, including for a number of PSG players. 

On Thursday evening, there was action for the Portuguese mafia, as Portugal took on Copenhagen in Denmark for their third UEFA Nations League game of this break. It has been a quiet week on the news front for the 2016 European Champions... 

Amidst all of the chaos, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha were both named in the starting XI by manager Jorge Jesus, whilst Joao Neves had to settle for a place on the bench, with namesake Ruben preferred in the XI. Meanwhile, former PSG striker Goncalo Ramos also started the game. 

It was a very entertaining first half, with Portugal taking the lead 13 minutes in, before Denmark equalised ten minutes later. Just two minutes after that, Jesus' side retook the lead. 

Then, eight minutes into the second half, the hosts equalised for a second time. Midway through the second period, PSG star Vitinha gave Portugal the lead for a third time, making a very clever run and heading home a cross from around six yards out. A lovely goal. His second in national team colours on his 49th appearance.

Just under ten minutes from the end of normal time, Neves came on to replace his former club team mate Ramos. A few minutes from time, they would score a fourth goal, making it a fairly comfortable 4-2 win in the end. 

This victory makes it three wins from three for Portugal, giving them a six point lead on both second and third place in the group, and pretty much already confirming their spot in the quarter-finals that will take place in March. 

As for the PSG players, Mendes and Vitinha played the full 90 minutes, whilst as touched on, Neves played the last nine minutes of the game. Next up for Portugal, in their fourth and final game of this extended break is a clash at home to Erling Haaland's Norway on Sunday, for a 20:45 CET kick off. 

You hope, with this already significant advantage at the top of the group, that the starters could get a rest in this one, though Vitinha has already been a sub in one of the games, so perhaps Mendes is the most likely. It will be interesting to see if Neves comes back into the side for that one, but let's see. Let's pray for no injuries.