With just seven days remaining until the highly anticipated UEFA Champions League final showdown against Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) organized an intense internal friendly match at their training facility in Poissy. While the outcome of the scrimmage was not disclosed, the primary focus remained on the fitness of two key squad members who sat out the session.
Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi, who have both been integral to PSG’s campaign this season, were notably absent from the 11-a-side practice game. Hakimi, who sustained a thigh injury during the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich on April 28, spent the session working individually under medical supervision. Meanwhile, Dembélé, who experienced discomfort in his calf during last Sunday’s Ligue 1 defeat to Paris FC, remained off the pitch to continue his recovery.
no cause for concern ahead of budapest final
Despite their absence from the training match, club officials have indicated that there is no cause for alarm regarding the pair’s readiness for the May 30 final in Budapest. Both players are expected to feature prominently in Luis Enrique’s starting lineup, with a full recovery anticipated by the end of the week.
The internal friendly served as a final tune-up before the high-stakes encounter with Arsenal. The match, played at a high tempo, featured two evenly matched teams—one clad in black and the other in white—competing over a 60-minute period. While the scoreline from the session was not revealed, Ibrahima Mbaye and Vitinha netted goals for the white team, according to reports. The session was attended by 1,000 passionate ultras and 100 young fans, who were given a final glimpse of the squad before the Champions League decider.
A banner displayed by the Collectif Ultras Paris captured the club’s ambitions: “Once is historic. Twice is legendary.