SoccerNews
Sturm Graz came from two goals down to secure an unlikely draw against Paris Saint-Germain in their first game since Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid.
Ibrahim Mbaye and Carlos Soler had given the Parisiens a two-goal advantage with just 12 minutes on the clock, but their Austrian opponents would respond.
Amady Camara would pull a goal back for the hosts three minutes later, with Otar Kiteishvili levelling the scores just before half-time.
Substitute Marco Asensio had the opportunity to win the encounter late on for the Ligue 1 champions, but Luis Enrique started his pre-season preperations with a draw.
PSG opened the scoring at the 28 Black Arena through 16-year-old debutant Mbaye, bouncing the ball over the onrushing Daniil Khudiakov after being found by Asensio.
Soler, who captained the side in Austria, found the target three minutes later when Randal Kolo Muani’s cross picked him out unmarked inside the area.
But Kamara halved the deficit in double quick time, picking the pocket of Naoufel El Hannach on the edge of the area before finishing beyond Matvey Safonov.
The comeback was completed in the 43rd minute in some style, as Kiteishvili took aim from distance to find the bottom corner.
Full-time at the Wörthersee Stadion.
Some important minutes in the legs #STUPSG pic.twitter.com/EtuK7RhAdq
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 7, 2024
Data Debrief: PSG struggle without stars
Enrique is without some of his top performers in front of goal, but his PSG side had more than enough quality on the pitch to claim victory in Austria.
The Parisiens accumulated an expected goals (xG) of just 1.06, 0.18 fewer than their opponents. PSG managed nine shots in the encounter, four fewer than Sturm Graz.
16-year-old Mbaye did impress on debut, however, recording the most shots (three), shots on target (two) and touches in the opposition box (four) than anyone in the PSG side.