Placeholder canvas

Cabaye fires PSG to victory over Inter Milan

Date:

French champions Paris Saint-Germain finished 2014 with a victory as a second half goal from Yohan Cabaye handed them a narrow 1-0 victory over Serie A side Inter Milan on Tuesday in Morocco.

In a prestige friendly, held in the North African country recently stripped of the right to host the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, PSG coach Laurent Blanc made numerous changes at the Grand Stade in front of some 30,000 supporters.

Former Newcastle favourite Cabaye grabbed the only goal of the match on 57 minutes when he converted following sustained pressure from the capital club.

Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani was a notable absentee along with Argentinian Ezequiel Lavezzi, while talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic was given a chance to prove his return to fitness and lasted the full 90 minutes.

“It was a good match,” said Swede Ibrahimovic. “We’ve had a super three days here with very intensive training sessions. Winning is good for the confidence but the most important thing is to work well to prepare the second part of the season.”

Meanwhile, Blanc said he would be awaiting “some explications” from both Cavani and Lavezzi, who missed the training camp in Morocco.

“They’ll arrive on (January) 2 in the morning in Paris,” explained Blanc, who refused to be drawn on a possible transfer of either of the two players when the window opens on Saturday.

“We can’t say that today. We’re going to wait until they arrive,” he said. “We’ll expect some explanations, and then we’ll make sporting decisions as a club.”

Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini, meanwhile, said that the Italian club had not been in contact with Lavezzi.

“Lavezzi is a great player, but he’s a PSG player. There is no contact and it’s not for me to contact him,” said Mancini.

PSG are currently third in Ligue 1, but only three points behind leaders and arch rivals Marseille, while they also have a key Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea looming large in February.

Their next competitive match is against 2012 Ligue 1 champions Montpellier in the French Cup on January 5.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related

Olympics 2024: World Anti Doping Agency Faces A Trust Crisis

Anti-Doping agency tasked with policing doping in sports is facing a crisis as it tries to fend off allegations that it helped cover up the positive tests of elite Chinese swimmers who went on to compete and win medals at the last Summer games

US President Joe Biden Calls Donald Trump “Unhinged,” Says “Something Snapped” In After He Lost 2020 Elections

Trump continues to hold an advantage over Biden, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS last month. Trump's support in the poll among registered voters held steady at 49 per cent in a head-to-head matchup against Biden

IPL 2024: RCB Skipper Faf Lauds Pacers Yash, Lockie Following 47-Run Win Over DC

RCB continued with their second-half surge, making it five wins in five matches and climbing up to the fifth spot with a 47-run win over DC at their home ground of M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday

IPL 2024: Rajat Patidar’s Half-Century Powers RCB To 187/9 Against Delhi Capitals

Rajat Patidar (52 runs from 32 balls, 3 fours and 3 sixes) replaced Kohli and played a stellar knock. He played at a strike rate of 162.50