Paris Saint-Germain concluded their tour of Japan in style on Monday night after the Ligue 1 champions battered Gamba Osaka 6-2 at the Panasonic Stadium Suita. PSG stars Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi contributed in the huge win, with Neymar scoring a brace and both Mbappe and Messi scoring one apiece.
Having beaten Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 and Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0, PSG were looking to wrap up their Japan tour with three wins out of three, and Pablo Sarabia set Les Parisiens to the right direction with the opening goal in the 28th minute, seizing upon a Messi shot that was deflected away by Gamba goalie Masaaki Higashiguchi.
A Neymar penalty shortly afterwards made it 2-0, however Keisuke Kurokawa’s close-ranged finish meant that Gamba, who were struggling in this season’s J.League 1, were able to keep up with their more illustrious opponents coming into the 35th minute mark.
However, all hopes of a comeback from Tomohiro Katanosaka’s Gamba were dashed only two minutes afterwards, after a double whammy from Nuno Mendes (37th minute) and Messi (39th minute) meant that PSG held a commanding 4-1 lead going into half-time.
Neymar completed his brace in the 60th minute to make it 5-1 PSG, before the Parisians’ manager Christophe Galtier rang in the changes, bringing in Mbappe and Mauro Icardi for Messi and Neymar.
Hiroto Yamami made it 5-2 in the 70th minute, before a late penalty from Mbappe completed the 6-2 route for PSG.
Gamba will now shift their attentions back into the J1 relegation battle as they take on local rivals Kyoto Sanga on July 30th, while PSG will gear themselves up for the French season opener on July 31st, taking on last season’s French Cup winners Nantes in the Trophee des Champions in Tel Aviv.