Key facts
- PSG took an early lead over Manchester United via Ibrahim Mbaye, assisted by Dro Fernandez, at Nya Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg.
- United previously beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in their last preseason friendly.
- Youri Tielemans made his first appearance in a Manchester United matchday squad, starting on the bench alongside Bruno Fernandes.
- United started in a 4-2-3-1 (Heaton; Mazraoui, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Mount, Santos; Amad, Lacey, Dorgu; Mbeumo); PSG in a 4-3-3 (Safonov; Boly, Zabarnyi, Pacho, Koukaba; Beraldo, Fernandez, Mayulu; Ayari, Kvaratskhelia, Mbaye).
- PSG are set to play Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup and then Lens on August 16 in the Trophee des Champions.
- Match kicked off at 5 p.m. local time in Gothenburg (11 a.m. ET, 4 p.m. BST), broadcast in the U.S. on CBS Sports Network.
Manchester United played European champions Paris Saint-Germain in a preseason friendly on Saturday at Nya Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden, in what was billed as United’s toughest warm-up test of the summer under manager Michael Carrick. Kickoff was 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET, 4 p.m. BST), with the match broadcast in the United States on CBS Sports Network.
PSG went ahead early. In the opening minutes, forward Ibrahim Mbaye — a player who has been linked with a summer transfer away from the club — finished at the far post off a low cross from Dro Fernandez. According to Sporting News, United defender Ayden Heaven struggled to get his footing while trying to block the delivery, contributing to a straightforward goal against the run of play.
The lineups
United set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Tom Heaton in goal behind a back line of Noussair Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, Ayden Heaven and Luke Shaw. Mason Mount and Andrey Santos sat in midfield, with Amad Diallo, Sekou Lacey and Patrick Dorgu supporting lone striker Bryan Mbeumo. Bruno Fernandes and new signing Youri Tielemans started on the bench — the friendly marked Tielemans’ first appearance in a United matchday squad.
PSG lined up in a 4-3-3 with Matvey Safonov in goal, a back four of Denilson Boly, Illia Zabarnyi, Willian Pacho and Ayoub Koukaba, a midfield of Lucas Beraldo, Dro Fernandez and Senny Mayulu, and a front line of Ayoub Ayari, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ibrahim Mbaye. PSG’s selection mixed younger squad members with established starters such as Kvaratskhelia.
Recent form and preseason build-up
United arrived off a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in their previous friendly, with more players returning to training following World Cup duty, allowing Carrick to field a stronger XI than in earlier warm-up games. PSG, as reigning back-to-back Champions League winners, have had to compress their preseason schedule despite needing to give players rest after the World Cup.
What’s next
PSG are scheduled to face Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup the following Wednesday, then play Lens on August 16 in the Trophee des Champions, with the club aiming to contest both early-season trophies. No further fixture details were provided for Manchester United beyond the PSG friendly.
Sources
Featured photo: Austin Osuide via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)