Opposed to a selection of the best players from the Saudi clubs of Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, this Thursday, in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), PSG won outnumbered despite a double from Cristiano Ronaldo (5-4) .
The show was on point. The prestigious friendly match, this Thursday, between PSG and a selection of the best players from the Saudi clubs of Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr was rich in events and goals. Nothing surprising in view of the quality of the players who were present on the lawn of the King Fahd stadium in Riyadh, the scene of the long-awaited reunion between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
And the two mega stars stood out in front of a cheerful audience. Lionel Messi struck first. On a deep service from Neymar, the seven-time Ballon d’Or opened the scoring with a cross shot from the 3e minute of the game. But the Portuguese, who was playing his very first match in Saudi Arabia since signing for Al-Nassr, answered him a few minutes later (34e). The former Mancunian converted a penalty he had obtained himself after a completely missed exit from Keylor Navas with his elbow in the face of Ronaldo.
It only took three short minutes for Messi to open the scoring!
The Argentinian was perfectly served by Neymar! https://t.co/lkgWC1pDQn
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 19, 2023
CR7 does justice to himself and equalizes on this penalty !!!https://t.co/qCAvzbke1u
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 19, 2023
Events then followed very quickly with the expulsion of Juan Bernat for a gross foul on a counter-attack by the Saudi team. In numerical inferiority, the PSG still regained the advantage thanks to Marquinhos (43rd). In stoppage time in the 1st half, Neymar had the chance to add to the score, but the Brazilian saw his penalty saved by Mohammed Al-Owais, who dived to the right side. And in the process, Cristiano Ronaldo, very dashing, tied the two teams just before the break (45th + 4). A double that notably allowed him to be elected man of the match.
On a caviar from Kylian Mbappé, Marquinhos restores the advantage to PSG just before half-time!https://t.co/TbTXxZPRYP
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 19, 2023
CR7 is unstoppable!!!
Doubled for the Portuguese who equalized just before half-time! https://t.co/mUaJSlnWUb
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 19, 2023
Extremely rare scene, Neymar completely misses his penalty! https://t.co/D63djj0a9m
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 19, 2023
In the second half, the capital club took the lead through Sergio Ramos on a cross from Kylian Mbappé, already a passer on Marquinhos’ goal (53e). A short-lived advantage because Hyun-soo Jang, in turn, equalized by cutting a corner with his head (56e). But Kylian Mbappé, after being a double passer, also scored his goal from the penalty spot by taking the opposing goalkeeper on the wrong foot, before Hugo Ekitike, who entered on the hour mark, sealed the victory for PSG. ‘a powerful strike (78e) despite the realization of Talisca at the very end of the match (90th + 4).
Another masterful number from Mbappé who serves Sergio Ramos to restore the advantage to PSG! https://t.co/VnFUFZVM8u
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 19, 2023
Messi provokes a penalty, Mbappé transforms it, 4-3 for PSG! https://t.co/8opCX1iwWx
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 19, 2023
Our Talisca is always up to the challenge pic.twitter.com/v2IFBpSWhF
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) January 19, 2023
With this success, at the end of an express tour in Qatar then in Saudi Arabia, the PSG changed their ideas somewhat after the defeat conceded, Sunday, in Rennes in the league (1-0) and before facing the US Pays de Cassel, Monday, in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France.
