PSG hand Leicester harsh Champions League lesson

PSG hand Leicester harsh Champions League lesson

Standard preseason caveats apply, but Leicester City’s Champions League preparations got off to a less than ideal start Saturday night with a 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the International Champions Cup.

Edinson Cavani, Jonathan Ikone, Lucas Moura and Odsonne Edouard got the goals for the French champions, who looked thoroughly superior in every facet of play.

Leicester sat in two banks of four and conceded possession, as it often did during its Premier League title-winning campaign. But PSG picked apart the 4-4-2 with pace and skill.

“We wanted to press, but it was difficult when you go to press and don’t arrive at the right time,” Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri said postgame. “And they move the ball very quickly.”

Ranieri had admitted the day before that Saturday night’s game at StubHub Center would be a good test for his club ahead of its inaugural appearance in the Champions League.

“It’s important for us now to play against these big teams,” he said. “These kind of matches are friendly matches, it’s not Champions League, but it’s very important to make experience.”

It’s safe to say there’s still work to be done. Leicester played without leading striker Jamie Vardy, and started multiple reserve midfielders and fullbacks.

But squad rotation will be key if Ranieri and Leicester are to manage European games on top of their Premier League title defense. In that sense, Saturday was a tad ominous.

At the very least, it’s a lesson learned. “It’s a good experience for us,” Ranieri said. “PSG is a team that is building to win the Champions League. Their squad is a big squad, big level. And at [this] moment, the preparation, maybe they are a little ahead of us.”

PSG’s first goal came from the penalty spot. A clumsy challenge from second-string Foxes midfielder Daniel Amartey left the referee with no choice but to point to the spot, and Cavani took advantage in the 26th minute.

PSG’s only clear-cut chance prior to the opener was a Thiago Motta far-post header with the goal gaping. But the attacking waves gradually started to roll after the deadlock was broken.

Angel Di Maria broke away on the counter on multiple occasions — one after Cavani picked him out with an exquisite first-time, outside-of-the-foot, cross-field half volley.

Leicester’s best chance came via a dead ball and via their star Riyad Mahrez.

Mahrez, who has been the subject of incessant transfer speculation this summer, started and played 65 minutes for Leicester and was largely contained in open play.

His brightest moment was 31st-minute free kick from 20 yards out that was tipped over by PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

PSG made it two on the stroke of halftime. The Parisians played out of soft Leicester pressure in midfield to break away again.

Youngster Jonathan Ikone played wide for right back Thomas Meunier, who returned the favor as Ikone finished well.

Both Leonardo Ulloa and record signing Ahmed Musa had glorious chances to get one back for Leicester just after the break.

PSG’s defense collapsed and allowed Marc Albrighton to release Ulloa one-on-one with Areola, who saved the Argentine striker’s initial attempt.

Ulloa pounced on the rebound and crossed for Musa, who badly miscued a side volley from six yards out with Areola still behind the play.

That chance came against the run of play, though. PSG sprayed the ball side to side, back to front and all over the field as its dominance grew.

The third goal came after a long spell of possession that ended with left back Maxwell finding second-half substitute Lucas unmarked at the far post.

After multiple group substitutions from both sides, PSG lost its rhythm, and the final 20 minutes were roughly even.

That didn’t stop Edouard from making it 4-0 minutes from the final whistle to put a stamp on what was a convincing victory.

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PSG Leicester City football International Champions Cup

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