5,000 FANS AT PSG FRIENDLY
FANS returned to elite sport in Europe for the first time since lockdown yesterday as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Le Havre 9-0 in a friendly match. Up to 5,000 supporters were in attendance as the French champions ran riot at Stade Oceane. ‘Now it’s for real… we’re back,’ tweeted PSG striker Kylian Mbappe, who scored in the rout, ahead of kick-off. Only 20 per cent of Le Havre’s 25,000-seater ground was filled as the French League 2 club faced PSG’s expensively assembled squad. Upper tiers were left empty so that fans could socially distance. Spectators arrived wearing face masks, though many took them off once they were in their seats. France’s football season was cancelled in April but, of Europe’s top five leagues, Ligue 1 is the only one which plans to start the new season with some fans attending. Meanwhile, Barcelona stayed in touch with La Liga leaders Real Madrid after a 1-0 win at Real Valladolid. Arturo Vidal scored and Barca now trail Madrid by a point having played a game more. Real have three games to play and are favourites to seal a first domestic title since 2017 with Granada, Villarreal and Leganes left to play. Vidal might have been the matchwinner, but it was Lionel Messi who carved his name in La Liga history.
Messi slipped the ball to Vidal and he flashed home a low shot for the Argentine to become the first player in history to both score and assist 20 goals or more in the same La Liga season. Atletico Madrid boosted their bid to finish third with a 1-0 win over Real Betis. Diego Costa hit a 74th-minute winner. In Italy, two Cristiano Ronaldo penalties secured Juventus a 2-2 draw with title rivals Atalanta. The result leaves Juventus eight points clear of second-placed Lazio — who slumped to a third straight defeat against Sassuolo — and nine ahead of Atalanta with six games left.