Parisians build confidence ahead of Champions League

After winning the Perth International Cup against Manchester City (1-0) and dominating Quevilly-Rouen Métropole (11-0) on their return to the PSG Campus, the Parisians concluded their pre-season preparations against Stade de Reims. With a trip to Italy to take on Juventus in the Women's Champions League play-offs just days away, Fabrice Abriel decided to make the most of the depth in his squad, starting youngsters Landryna Lushimba Bilombi and Tara Elimbi Gilbert in the first half. Paulina Dudek wore the captain's armband.

After an observational first quarter of an hour, the Parisians grew in strength as the minutes went by. After Laurina Fazer had narrowly missed the target (17'), Romée Leuchter's defelcted long-range effort surprised the Reims goalkeeper and broke the deadlock (1-0, 19'). Les Rouge et Bleu may have shone as a team in the first half, but Fabrice Abriel's side also made the difference through their individual performances. Tara Elimbi-Gilbert was particularly inspired during the match, and she soon put the capital club ahead with a splendid curling effort that flew into the top corner (2-0, 27'). Solid in all areas of the game, the Parisians went into the break with a two-goal lead.

Looking to give his whole squad a chance to get some miles in, Fabrice Abriel brought on a number of key players at half-time, including Elisa de Almeida, Grâce Geyoro, Korbin Albert and Marie-Antoinette Katoto. The capital club immediately extended their lead through Griedge Mbock, who finished off a scramble in the opposition box (3-0,56’). Despite dominating the game, the Parisians came up against a particularly compact Rémois rearguard. Thus it was from a set-piece that the capital club tried to increase their lead, but Korbin Albert's effort narrowly missed the target (73'). However, the American international finally made the breakthrough on her own, firing an angled shot into the bottom corner of the net (4-0, 78'). After a lightning counter-attack, Reims reduced the deficit (4-1, 86'), but it was too late to revive their prospects in a match whose fate had already been sealed.

Paris Saint-Germain's women's team thus ended their summer preparations in the best possible way - by building up their confidence against Reims. Fabrice Abriel's side will be back in action on Wednesday 18 September when they take on Juventus in the first leg of the Women's Champions League play-off.