Paris Saint Germain’s Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe scored four goals combined at Suita Stadium as PSG completed a Japan tour that was part of its preparations for the summer. Neymar scored a brace while Lionel Messi netted once against Gamba Osaka. Paris Saint-Germain’s new manager, Christophe Galtier, mentioned aspects of conceding two goals too many, despite the deadly combination of Lionel Messi and Neymar. They combined for the fatal strike in a 6-2 thrashing of Gamba Osaka on Monday. Pablo Sarabia and Nuno Mendes also scored for PSG, but Galtier was involved with how his side allowed two goals at different ends against Gamba, which sits 16th on the J-Leagues 18-team table.
Lionel Messi then returned the favour in the second half, freeing Neymar to let him score his second goal of the match. Kylian Mbappe got his name on the scoresheet in the dying moments with a penalty kick after coming on in the last 30 minutes. The star strikers played all the first 70 minutes together at Osaka, with Neymar scoring the opening penalty in half, then setting up the goal for Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi. Gamba Osaka goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi frustrated the Paris Saint Germain stars in the match’s opening stages, first keeping Messi out and later keeping Neymar at bay as Neymar went clear through to score.
Lionel Messi also provided an assist apiece, as did summer signing Vitinha, at the Panasonic Stadium in Suita. At the same time, Keisuke Kurokawa and Hiroto Yamami scored consolation goals for the hosts on either side of halftime. This team defeated J-League winners Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 in its first match in Japan last Wednesday, then beat Urawa Reds 3-0 three days later. After Messi had sent Mbappe in on goal, Kawasaki goalkeeper Jung Song-ryong stopped him a minute later. Chanathip Songkrasin of Kawasaki, known as the “Thai Messi,” subsequently blocked a shot from his Argentine counterpart off the line to maintain the game scoreless. However, Messi broke through soon after, sending a shot into the corner from just inside the area. Neymar and Mbappe left at halftime, and Kawasaki forward Kei Chinen squandered a golden opportunity to level in the 50th minute when he blasted over the bar.
Neymar says he feels fit after coming on as a substitute for Lionel Messi for the last 30 minutes. Galtier, who took over Paris Saint-Germain’s costs for the first time after joining PSG from Nice this summer, said playing a team from Japan in the middle of its domestic campaign had forced us to get physical.
