Football
2016 International Champions Cup
RMA 
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FT
 PSG
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Jonathan Johnson 8y

Jonathan Ikone, Thomas Meunier help PSG cruise past Real Madrid

COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Paris Saint-Germain recorded their second consecutive International Champions Cup victory on Wednesday with a 3-1 win over Real Madrid at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Although the Spanish giants were under strength and missing the likes of 2016 UEFA European Championship stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, Los Blancos still fielded a relatively strong starting XI to face Unai Emery's men.

However, the difference between the two sides' match readiness was evident from early on as PSG raced into a 3-0 lead inside of 41 minutes. Only a Serge Aurier handball could bring Zinedine Zidane's team back into the contest, with Marcelo giving Kevin Trapp no chance from the penalty spot.

Bright young Parisian talent Jonathan Ikone demonstrated his immense potential with a superb solo goal after less than two minutes before early substitute Thomas Meunier took centre stage with a stunning effort from range and then a messy tap-in.

Emery will be pleased with the result but he will also be concerned by the injury suffered by captain Thiago Silva during a reckless tackle early in the game. With Marquinhos on Olympic duty and David Luiz already nursing an issue himself, Presnel Kimpembe is PSG's only recognised central defender at present.

The Spanish tactician has helped increase the level of intensity in their performances so far this preseason but seeing Silva, Aurier and Layvin Kurzawa booked in a friendly is something that he will need to rein in.

Emery will need to put a bit more work in on the training pitch with Edinson Cavani, though, after the Uruguay international endured another wasteful performance on American soil after a dismal Copa America earlier this summer.

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