PSG 4-0 Celtic: Neymar and Mbappe overpower Neil Lennon’s side

Sobering end to French pre-season tour
Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar tries to find a way past Celtic defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Christopher Jullien. Picture: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty ImagesParis Saint-Germain's Neymar tries to find a way past Celtic defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Christopher Jullien. Picture: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images
Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar tries to find a way past Celtic defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Christopher Jullien. Picture: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images

Celtic ended their pre-season foray to France with a sobering 4-0 friendly defeat by Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.

Striker Kylian Mbappe had the home side ahead in the first minute with a smart finish and in the 25th minute Brazilian superstar Neymar added a second.

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PSG made wholesale changes for the second half but if anything increased their control with two of their substitutes, Marco Verratti and Ander Herrera, combining three minutes after the restart for the latter to fire in a third. Pablo Sarabia added a fourth in the 66th minute with a stunning volley and the French champions ran out easy winners.

PSG's Kylian Mbappe is congratulated by defender Thilo Kehrer after his early opener. Picture: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty ImagesPSG's Kylian Mbappe is congratulated by defender Thilo Kehrer after his early opener. Picture: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images
PSG's Kylian Mbappe is congratulated by defender Thilo Kehrer after his early opener. Picture: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images

Neil Lennon’s side went into the game following a 2-1 defeat by Lyon and a 1-1 draw with Nice in the Veolia Trophy tournament but this was a huge step up from which they can take added fitness and sharpness.

Celtic begin their quest for their tenth successive Premiership title at home to Hamilton on 2 August, safe in the knowledge they will not face this level of opponent domestically next season.

The Scottish champions had lost 7-1 at the same venue and 5-0 at Parkhead when the clubs met in the Champions League in 2017. Ominously, PSG took the lead with less than a minute on the clock when the lightning Mbappe flew through the centre of the Celtic defence to take a Neymar pass and rifle the ball past helpless keeper Scott Bain.

Celtic’s response was heartening. In the 13th minute midfielder Olivier Ntcham’s goal-bound shot was deflected over the bar for a corner, which came to nothing but PSG always retained a threat and at the other end striker Mauro Icardi was only inches away from getting on the end of an Mbappe cross. To end a decent spell of play by Celtic, Neymar took a cutback 14 yards from goal and drove in PSG’s second off the legs of Nir Bitton.

In the 34th minute Bain made a good save from Mbappe after he had been sent through by Neymar. But two minutes later Celtic came close to reducing the deficit when Christopher Jullien headed a Ryan Christie free-kick off the post.

A new-look PSG side started the second half almost as quickly as the first – although Bain looked at fault when Herrera slammed in a low drive, the ball bouncing up from the keeper’s gloves and into the roof of the net.

There was little more of note until the 62nd minute, when Herrera smashed a drive from 25 yards past the post, but four minutes later Sarabia made it four with a textbook volley from a Verratti pass.

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Celtic kept going and in the 72nd minute, substitute James Forrest had a decent drive saved by Sergio Rico and the Scotland winger came close with a drive in the final minute as the visitors tried in vain for a consolation.

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