Cristiano Ronaldo Scores A Brace As Lionel Messi's PSG Beat Al Nassr-Al Hilal
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals for Al Nassr-Al Hilal, Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia when they played Lionel Messi’s Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in a friendly match played in the Middle Eastern nation’s capital.
The friendly match was a part of Riyadh Seasons, a Saudi festival sponsored by the government.
Both Messi and Ronaldo found the scoresheet, as did Kylian Mbappe, and PSG emerged with a 5-4 victory.
Ronaldo struck twice, once via a penalty and once from open play, while Messi’s teammates Mbappe and Neymar scored from the penalty spot as well.
Mbappe scored, only after Neymar had blundered his chance to score.
Ronaldo got Man of the Match for his brace.
Juan Bernat was sent off in the 39th minute for a last-man foul, leaving PSG down a man for much of the game, but it didn’t matter as both sides took advantage of the exhibition environment to put on a show in front of the net.
This match was little more than a showcase event between two star-studded squads featuring two iconic players, but the two teams will hope that good performance can springboard them further into the season’s competitive matches. The attacking talent on both sides really did steal the show.
Lineups:
PSG (3-4-3, right to left): Navas (GK — Donnarumma, 65′) — Hakimi (Pembele, 68′), Marquinhos (Danilo, 46′), Ramos (Bitshiabu, 65′), Bernat (red card, 39′) — Sanches (Vitinha, 46′ — Kari, 86′), Fabian (Nuno, 67′), Soler (Gharbi, 63′) — Neymar (Zaire-Emery, 63′), Messi (Housni, 63′), Mbappe (Ekitike, 64′).
Riyadh (4-3-3, right to left): Al-Owais (GK) — Abdulhamid, Al Bulayhi, Soo Jang, Al Ghanam (Lajami, 46′) — Al Khaibari (Kanno, 64′), Gustavo (Otayf, 87′), Al Dawsari (Al Najei, 87′) — P. Martinez (Carrillo, 64′), Ronaldo (Pereira, 61′), Marega (Talisca, 46′).
