With just seven days remaining until the highly anticipated Champions League final, Paris Saint-Germain orchestrated a high-stakes internal scrimmage at their training complex in Poissy. This closed-door exercise served as a crucial final rehearsal for the showdown against Arsenal in Budapest on May 30th. Luis Enrique, the team’s head coach, handpicked two balanced sides for an intense hour-long battle, ensuring his players maintained sharpness ahead of the prestigious European clash.
The matchup split the squad into two evenly matched teams:
- Team Black: Marin – Fanne Drame, Zabarnyi, Hernandez, Mendes – Mayulu, Neves, Beraldo – Doué, Ramos, Barcola
- Team White: Safonov – Zaïre-Emery, Pacho, Marquinhos, Cordier – Dro, Vitinha, Ruiz – Mbaye, Lee, Kvaratskhelia
Two key players—Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi—were notably absent from the friendly, though they trained separately. Club officials confirmed both will feature in the final, dispelling any concerns about their readiness. Meanwhile, Nuno Mendes and Willian Pacho returned after missing the recent Ligue 1 fixture against Paris FC.
Luis Enrique introduced fresh talent into the mix, including Abdou Fanne Drame, Rayan Abo El Nay, Thomas Cordier, and Yanis Khafi. The session also provided a stage for Vitinha, Ibrahim Mbaye, and Gonçalo Ramos to showcase their scoring prowess.
A charged atmosphere for the final countdown
The training session drew 1,000 passionate ultras, invited by the club to honor their unwavering support throughout the season and recreate stadium-like conditions. The Collectif Ultras Paris seized the moment to deliver a rousing message, unfurling a banner that read: “Once is historic, twice is legendary.” Adding to the vibrant scene, over 150 children from the PSG for Communities initiative were welcomed by club president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.
As the session concluded, Marquinhos and his teammates presented jerseys and balls to the fans in attendance. Following a rest day on Sunday and Monday, the squad resumes training on Tuesday, stepping into the decisive final stretch before the Budapest showdown.
