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Trophee des Champions | Trophee des Champions
Aug 4, 2018 at 1pm UK
 
Monaco

4-0

di Maria (33', 92'), Nkunku (40'), Weah (67')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Paris Saint-Germain cruise to Trophee des Champions win over Monaco

Paris Saint-Germain win the Trophee des Champions for a sixth season running thanks to a 4-0 victory over Monaco in Shenzhen.

Paris Saint-Germain have defeated Monaco 4-0 at the Shenzhen Stadium in China to lift the Trophee des Champions for a sixth season running.

First-half goals from Angel Di Maria and Christopher Nkunku were added to by Timothy Weah and a second for Di Maria in the second half to seal the record-equalling triumph, matching Lyon's six-in-a-row feat from 2002 to 2007.

PSG, who have now scored 27 goals in seven successive wins against Monaco, also welcomed Neymar back to action late on for his first run-out at club level since February.

With Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe still not involved on the back of the World Cup, and Neymar only among the subs, a lot was resting on the shoulders of Di Maria.

The Argentina international stepped up in the first half, testing Diego Benaglio with a low shot nine minutes in and then opening the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark.

Di Maria made the most of Neymar's absence by curling home a 25-yard free kick, shortly after teammate Colin Dagba had produced some sublime trickery to work a shooting angle.

Monaco had opportunities of their own, with Yuri Tielemans's goalbound shot being deflected behind by the returning Thiago Silva, while Rony Lopes somehow slotted the ball wide when spotted in the middle by Samuel Grandsir.

Domestic cup kings PSG put their foot on the gas in the final 10 minutes of the first half, though, coming close through Stanley Nsoki's header and a long-range shot, before Nkunku furthered his claim for more regular playing time this season.

The French youngster converted Nsoki's low left-sided cross from a few yards out to make it three goals in three pre-season outings.

Two goals down at the break, Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim brought on Sofiane Diop and Balde Keita for a switch in formation.

That change initially brought fresh impetus, as Stevan Jovetic had a couple of well-struck shots kept out by Gianluigi Buffon early in the second half.

Monaco struggled to get a touch of the ball for a 10-minute spell in the second period, however, and the game could have been put to bed before the hour as Di Maria had one shot saved and hit another into the side-netting.

PSG went with three at the back for the final quarter of the match with the introduction of Marquinhos, and it would prove to be plain sailing for the capital club.

USA international Weah joined the scoring when capitalising on some more impressive wide play from Nsoki, who brushed aside Andrea Raggi like he wasn't there and pulled the ball back for his teammate.

Further chances came and went for Di Maria and Nkunku, the latter of whom thumped the ball against the crossbar from eight yards.

A positive afternoon for PSG was capped by the appearance of Neymar for the final 15 minutes and a second goal of the game for Di Maria, tucking the ball past Benaglio at the end of a swift counter for an emphatic win.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (4-3-3): Buffon; Nsoki, Rimane, Silva (Bernede 74'), Dagba; Rabiot, Verratti (Neymar 76'), Diarra (Marquinhos 64'); Nkunku, Di Maria, Weah

MONACO (4-2-3-1): Benaglio; Raggi, Glik, Jemerson, Serrano; Aholou, Pele (Diop 46'); Grandsir (Keita 46'), Tielemans, Lopes (Mboula 64'); Jovetic

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Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar in action against Strasbourg on February 17, 2018
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