PSG will look to add yet another French Super Cup title to their cabinet when they take on Rennes in China today afternoon.
Paris SG have won the last six French Super Cups but will be without the suspended duo of Neymar and Julian Draxler.
Here is how the French media expect Thomas Tuchel’s men to line up today- a 4-3-3 with Mbappe, Cavani & Sarabia upfront, and a midfield trio of Herrera, Marquinhos & Verratti.
Days after upsetting Arsenal in the Emirates Cup, Olympique Lyonnais weren’t quite able to do the same to reigning European champions Liverpool as they were beaten 3-1 in the Swiss city of Geneva. The fixture was Liverpool’s final pre-season one and the victory was a timely one for the Reds after failures to beat Sevilla, Sporting and Napoli.
Jurgen Klopp, with one eye on the Charity Shield fixture against Man City, chose to call up many of his big names- the likes of Alisson, Firmino, Salah, Shaqiri and Keita were all taking the pitch for the first time this season. There were plenty of changes in the OL lineup as well, with Sylvinho shuffling his troops.
Alisson, fresh from a Copa victory with Brazil, had the worst possible start to the game as he dropped an easy cross and fouled Dembele, allowing Memphis to put OL ahead from the spot in the 4th minute.
After soaking up an early spell of pressure, Liverpool were able to draw level when Roberto Firmino fired home in the 17th minute. There was perhaps an element of luck in the way the ball fell to the Brazilian, but his finish was top class.
Joachim Andersen’s unfortunate own goal four minutes later (bizarrely under no pressure at all), saw Lyon fall behind. Harry Wilson, whose exploits with Derby endeared him to many a Reds fan, sealed the deal with an absolute stunner eight minutes after the interval.
France bounced back from their shock loss in Konya as they beat Andorra 4-0. Didier Deschamps rang in the changes- seven of them in total, and was rewarded with a comfortable 4-0 win that saw Kylian Mbappe, Wissam Ben Yedder, Florian Thauvin and Kurt Zouma get on the scoresheet.
The evening worked out quite well for the French, with Turkey’s away loss in Iceland meaning that Les Bleus are now top of their qualifying group.
According to the French press, Didier Deschamps is likely to ring in the changes following Les Bleus’ disappointing 2-0 loss against Turkey in Konya. France play Andorra away tonight and while victory is almost a given, here are the changes Deschamps might make this evening.
Six players who started the Turkey loss are also expected to be in the XI against Andorra- skipper Lloris, defender Varane, midfielder Pogba and the attacking trio of Griezmann, Mbappe and Giroud.
The majority of the changes are likely to be in defence, with Real Madrid bound Ferland Mendy coming in at left back, Clement Lenglet replacing club mate Samuel Umtiti at centre back, and Leo Dubois in for Benjamin Pavard on the right side. Other likely changes include Ndombele for Sissoko in midfield and Thauvin for Matuidi.
France coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Ferland Mendy is on the verge of a switch to Real Madrid. Speaking in his pre-match press conference before the Andorra game, the Les Bleus gaffer lavished praise on the OL full back saying that he “had been in Ligue 2 two seasons ago and is now going to play at Real Madrid”.
From the original French words spoken by Deschamps
Il a une progression fulgurante, il était en Ligue 2 il y a deux ans et il va se retrouver au Real Madrid.
Mendy, who enjoyed a great campaign with Lyon, has already undergone a medical with Real, who seem to be busy in the current transfer market in order to make up for their disastrous season.
The 24 year old is expected to be one of the changes Deschamps will ring in for their European qualifier away in Andorra. He played the second half of France’s 2-0 loss to Turkey, replacing Lucas Digne at half time.
