The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) conducted an internal friendly match at the Poissy training complex on Saturday, just a week before facing Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final. While the squad maintained high-intensity play for over an hour, two key players—Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi—were notably absent from the action.
Despite their absence, there’s no cause for concern regarding their fitness for the high-stakes showdown in Budapest. Hakimi, who sustained a thigh injury during the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich, spent the session on individual conditioning. Meanwhile, Dembélé, who experienced calf discomfort during PSG’s recent Ligue 1 clash with Paris FC, remained under medical supervision but is expected to recover in time for the final.
PSG’s final preparation before the Champions League showdown
The internal match, played between two teams dressed in black and white, saw goals from Ibrahima Mbaye and Vitinha for the white team, though the final score remained undisclosed. The session attracted 1,000 ultras and 100 young fans, who chanted motivational slogans ahead of the historic final. A banner from the Collectif Ultras Paris read: “Once is historic. Twice is legendary.”, underscoring the club’s ambition to retain the trophy.
Club officials, including President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, sporting director Luis Campos, and head coach Luis Enrique, were greeted with thunderous applause from the supporters. The focus now shifts entirely to the Champions League final, where PSG aims to secure back-to-back titles after a thrilling season.
