Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi scored as 10-man PSG defeated Ryadh All-Stars in a nine-goal thriller at the Fahd International Stadium in Saudi Arabia.
Starting Lineup
Ryadh All-Stars: Ospina; Al Boleahi, Al Burayk, Al Juwayr, Cuellar, Konan; Gonzalez; Ighalo, Marega, Cristiano Ronaldo, Talisca
PSG: Navas; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Ramos, Bernat; Ruiz, Soler, Sanches, Messi, Mbappe, Neymar
A great game by both teams, but all eyes was on Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the game began.
Cristiano Ronaldo captained the newly-assembled Saudi Arabia season team, while Marquinhos led PSG’s full squad to the Fahd International Stadium for the game.
PSG started better with a measured pace and control of the game. Ryadh All-Stars did little to counter PSG’s dominance, with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar giving an edge to the PSG attack.
Just three minutes into the game, PSG’s sustained pressure paid off with Lionel Messi putting the Ligue giants ahead.
The record Ballon d’Or winner effortlessly tipped a throughball over Ryadh All-Stars goalkeeper to give PSG the lead.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s team mounted no formidable response after going a goal down. PSG were still on the lead and were coming across numerous chances to double the lead.
They nearly doubled the lead with another goal, but it was ruled off as offside. Ryadh All-Stars were still trailing by a lone goal but were beginning to match PSG’s offensive with quick counterattacks when in possession of the ball.
Meanwhile, the Manchester United legend was obviously muffled upfront by PSG’s star-studded defense led by his former teammate at Real Madrid Sergio Ramos, and Morocco international Achraf Hakimi.
Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to find his footing in the game as Ryadh All-Stars showed all signs of a temporarily assembled team unable to take on a blended and sophisticated Ligue 1 giants.
Nevertheless, there were promising scenes. Ryadh All-Stars did little to contend with their visitors for possession of the ball but were quick to proceed on offensives when winning possession.
Despite managing just 40% of the ball possession in the first half, they were able to match PSG’s number of shots on target.
They had 9 shots, while PSG had 8 shots, with both sides having 5 on target. But PSG completed more passes in the opponent’s box and squandered a series of clear-cut chances.
Despite the gap in performance between the two teams in the first half, Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Ryadh All-Stars to two first-half goals.
After being brought down by PSG goalkeeper following a set piece, Ryadh All-Stars were awarded a penalty and Ronaldo converted it to cancel out Lionel Messi’s 3rd-minute strike.
In the 39th minute, PSG were reduced to 10 men after Bernat bagged a red card. However, despite the one-man disadvantage, Marquinhos restored PSG’s lead five minutes after the red card.
In the 3rd minute of first-half stoppage time, PSG missed a golden chance to make it 3-1 after they were awarded a spot kick and Neymar missed it.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo completed a sensational first-half brace scoring in the 45+6th minute to level the scores again.
It was a great way to end the first half, with Ronaldo overtaking his rival Lionel Messi with one more goal in the game.
PSG were still fatal on the offensive despite playing with one man down. They exert some level of control over the game and were able to return to the lead in the 53rd minute. Sergio Ramos scored to make it 3-2, but Jang Hyun-Soo responded with an equaliser three minutes later to make it 3-3 for Ryadh All-Stars.
PSG won a penalty again in the 59th minute. This time, Kylian Mbappe took it and converted it perfectly to return PSG to the lead.
In the 78th minute, Ekitike put the game beyond Ryadh All-Stars with a perfect goal that saw the visitors increase the margin of the lead by two goals.
Talisca then scored a stoppage-time goal in the 90+4th minute to move the hosts closer to an equaliser, but 10-man PSG held on to win 4-5 after final whistle.
Full Highlights.
