With just a week remaining until their highly anticipated Champions League final showdown against Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain conducted an intense internal scrimmage during Saturday’s training session. Notably absent from this friendly encounter were Ousmane Dembélé, the recipient of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, and Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi. However, there appears to be no significant concern regarding their availability for the crucial match against Arsenal.
PSG maintained their competitive rhythm on Saturday at the Campus de Poissy. As previously outlined by coach Luis Enrique following the 2-1 defeat to Paris FC in their final Ligue 1 fixture, an internal practice match, lasting just over an hour, was held at a notably high tempo.
no worries for dembélé and hakimi, expected to start against arsenal
Two squads, designated black and white, competed in an eleven-a-side format. While the final score of the scrimmage was not disclosed, Ibrahima Mbaye and Vitinha reportedly found the back of the net for the white team. Approximately 1,000 devoted ultras and a hundred children, invited by the club, were present to offer their final encouragement to the Parisians before their monumental clash with the Gunners. A banner displayed by the Collectif Ultras Paris proclaimed, “Once, it’s historic. Twice, it’s legendary,” underscoring the club’s fervent desire to defend their Champions League title.
Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi were the sole players not to participate in the internal opposition. Hakimi, who sustained a thigh injury during the Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich on April 28 (a match PSG won 5-4), engaged in individual training. Dembélé, experiencing discomfort in his calf after last Sunday’s 2-1 encounter with Paris FC, remained in the treatment room. PSG officials are reportedly unconcerned about either player’s condition and are committed to taking no unnecessary risks. Both Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi are widely expected to be fit to start against Arsenal on May 30 in Budapest, for the Champions League final. Club President Al-Khelaifi, sporting director Luis Campos, head coach Luis Enrique, and the entire squad received a resounding ovation from the PSG ultras, whose focus is already firmly fixed on the upcoming challenge against the Gunners.
