Psg final countdown with intense internal training ahead of arsenal clash

With just seven days remaining before the highly anticipated UEFA Champions League final, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) pulled out all the stops in their final internal preparation. The club orchestrated a high-stakes training match at the Poissy campus to sharpen their competitive edge ahead of the showdown against Arsenal in Budapest on May 30th.

Under the watchful eye of manager Luis Enrique, two evenly matched squads of eleven players competed in a tightly contested 60-minute fixture. The session was designed to simulate match conditions, ensuring the team maintained peak performance levels as the season reaches its climax.

Team lineups for the internal clash:

• Black Team: Marin – Fanne Drame, Zabarnyi, Hernandez, Mendes – Mayulu, Neves, Beraldo – Doué, Ramos, Barcola
• White Team: Safonov – Zaïre-Emery, Pacho, Marquinhos, Cordier – Dro, Vitinha, Ruiz – Mbaye, Lee, Kvaratskhelia

Notably, Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi were absent from the friendly, though both trained separately. Club officials confirmed no concerns regarding their fitness for the final, dismissing any speculation about potential risks. Meanwhile, Nuno Mendes and Willian Pacho, who missed the last Ligue 1 match against Paris FC, were fully involved in the session.

The training session also served as a platform to integrate young talents like Abdou Fanne Drame, Rayan Abo El Nay, Thomas Cordier, and Yanis Khafi into the matchday environment. The session saw goals from Vitinha, Ibrahim Mbaye, and Gonçalo Ramos, highlighting the squad’s depth and attacking prowess.

A unique feature of the day was the presence of over 1,000 ultras, invited by the club to express their gratitude for the season’s unwavering support. The atmosphere was electric, with the Collectif Ultras Paris unfurling a banner reading, “Once is historic, twice is legendary.” The event also included 150 children from PSG for Communities, personally welcomed by club president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.

As a gesture of appreciation, Marquinhos and his teammates presented signed jerseys and footballs to the supporters. Following a rest day on Sunday and Monday, the squad will return to training on Tuesday, stepping into the final stretch of their Champions League campaign.