Psg final preparations: dembélé and hakimi miss internal friendly

With the UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal just one week away, Paris Saint-Germain held an internal training match this Saturday. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembélé, and Moroccan international defender Achraf Hakimi, were notably absent from this friendly encounter. However, there appears to be no significant concern regarding their availability for the highly anticipated clash against Arsenal.

As part of their rigorous preparations, PSG maintained their intense rhythm this Saturday at the Campus de Poissy training ground. Following coach Luis Enrique’s announcement after their recent Ligue 1 defeat to Paris FC (2-1), an internal friendly match unfolded for over an hour, reportedly at a high tempo.

no major concerns for dembélé and hakimi, expected to start against arsenal

The session saw two teams, designated ‘black’ and ‘white’, compete in an eleven-a-side format. While the final score was not disclosed, Ibrahima Mbaye and Vitinha were among the goal-scorers for the white team. A crowd of 1,000 dedicated ultras and approximately one hundred children, specially invited by the club, had the opportunity to offer their final encouragement to the Parisian squad before their monumental fixture against the Gunners. A banner displayed by the Collectif Ultras Paris powerfully captured the team’s ambition to retain their Champions League title, declaring: “Once is historic. Twice is legendary.”

Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi were the sole players missing from this internal opposition. Hakimi, who sustained a thigh knock during the Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich on April 28 (a 5-4 victory), focused on individual training. Dembélé, experiencing discomfort in his calf following last Sunday’s match against Paris FC (2-1), remained under medical care. Despite their absence, Paris Saint-Germain reportedly remains unconcerned about both players’ conditions and is committed to avoiding any unnecessary risks. Both Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi are widely expected to be fit and ready to start in the Champions League final against Arsenal on May 30 in Budapest. The club’s president, Al-Khelaifi, sporting director Luis Campos, head coach Luis Enrique, and the entire playing squad received a resounding ovation from the PSG ultras, whose focus is already firmly set on the upcoming challenge against the Gunners.