FC Barcelona remained unbeaten in their summer preseason matches after defeating PSG in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw. Abidal made the trip with the club and took the ceremonial kickoff. Barça B player, Rafinha, gave his side the lead after seven minutes. Messi scored his fourth goal of the summer when he converted from the spot seven minutes into the second half. Former Barça player Ibrahimovic converted from the spot for PSG a few minutes later and Camara scored the equalizer in the 82nd minute. Barça’s Pinto though would come up big in the ensuing shootout to ensure Barça won the Paris Trophy.

PSG’s starting lineup featured former Barça players Ibrahimovic and Maxwell, and former Napoli player, Ezequiel Lavezzi.  Former player Motta did not feature. Prior to the state of the game, Eric Abidal was on the pitch for the ceremonial kick off. The French defender, recovering from his life saving medical procedure, made the trip with his teammates for this friendly. It didn’t take Barça long to make a mark in the game.  Barça B player Rafinha gave his side the lead, thanks to an Alexis Sanchez, for his goal of the summer and his first ever senior team goal.

Barça were in control for the most part of the first half while PSG did little to threaten but neither side would add to the score line. The second half saw Barça double their lead when Messi converted from the spot just seven minutes into the second half after Alexis was brought down inside the box. For Messi, enjoying a rare summer where he has featured in summer friendlies, this was his fourth goal.

PSG would not take long to respond though since they were awarded a penalty a few minutes later. Ibrahimovic stepped and was able to beat his former teammate, Pinto who came in to replace Valdes, to reduce the score to 2-1. The final 30 minutes of the match saw more players from the Spanish national team make their summer debut after Gerard Pique, Cesc Fábregas, Xavi, Iniesta and Pedro were brought in as substitutes along with young players Martin Montoya and Cristian Tello, who just came back from the Olympics.

Pinto came to the team’s rescue late in the game when he made two dazzling back to back saves deny Peguy Luyindula. However, on the ensuing corner kick, Pinto could only watch as Camara headed home the equalizer eight minutes from time. The game ended in a 2-2 draw and no extra time was played so on to the shoot-out.

In the shoot-out, Pinto once again kept up his impressive run of great performances on shootouts when stopped the first two attempts by diving to his right on both occasions to deny Hoarau and then Gameiro. He could not however stop Armand’s effort but it would not matter. Barça had Messi, Xavi, Cesc and Pique convert from the spot to claim victory.  Next up, Barça will face Manchester United in Gothenburg, Sweden on Wednesday.

Match Info (From Sport):

PSG: Douchez (Sirigu, 45'), Jallet (Bisevac (62'), Sakho (Tiene, 71'), Alex (Armand, 45'), Maxwell (Camara, 45'), Rabiot (Verratti, 45'), Bodmer (Hoarau, 71'), Pastore, Nene (Gameiro, 45'), Lavezzi ( Luyindula, 62') & Ibrahimovic (Matuidi, 62')

FC Barcelona: Valdés (Pinto, 45'); Alves (Tello, 77'), Puyol (Bartra, 45'), Mascherano (Piqué, 62'), Planas (Montoya, 45'); Sergi Roberto (Iniesta, 62'), Sergio (Dos Santos, 45'), Afellay (Xavi, 62'), Rafinha (Cesc, 62'), Alexis (Pedro, 62') & Messi

Referee: Saïd Ennjimi

Goals: 0-1, Rafinha (m.7); 0-2, Messi (m.52 - penalty); 1-2, Ibrahimovic (m.60 – penalty); 2-2, Camara (m. 82')

Penalty Shoot-out:

Messi, goal

Hoarau, saved Pinto

Xavi, goal

Gameiro, saved Pinto

Cesc, goal

Armand, goal

Piqué, goal