AS Roma vs Paris Saint-Germain FC
Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
July 19th, 2017 7:00PM ET ESPN
With national team play coming to a close next week with the Gold Cup Final, it’s time to begin turning our attention to the upcoming European club season! That’s right, preseason camp has begun for world renowned clubs, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, etc. And this means the annual International Champions Cup is right around the corner. The aforementioned “Super Clubs”, as well as other big boys such as Manchester United, City, Tottenham Hotspur, As Roma, and Paris SG will all be plying its trade here in the States to prepare for the club season set to kickoff in mid-August. Therefore, what better way to celebrate the start of the new campaign than to talk about this exciting preseason tournament taking place on our soil! Today, I’ll be highlighting the first match of the ICC featuring AS Roma and PSG, which is taking place in my own backyard, Detroit, Michigan!
Host: Comerica Park
This will be the first futbol match to be played on the coveted carpet of Comerica Park. The ballpark, which is located in Detroit’s reinvigorated and vibrant downtown, has been home for the Detroit Tigers since 2000. During the Copa’s 17 year history, it’s played venue to multiple World Series, AL Pennant triumphs, and historic moments, such as Magglio Ordonez’s walk-off winner against the A’s, sending the Tigers into the World Series for the first time since the club won it all in 1984 (I was in attendance for the spectacle), Or, Justin Verlander’s first career no-hitter, Miggy magic, legendary Tiger’s former broadcaster Ernie Harwell’s timeless calls and his eye watering send-off speech that still gives me chills as I write this, epic concerts, and much more. And as AS Roma and PSG take to the pitch tomorrow, another memorable chapter will be written inside these teenage, but still historic, walls of Comerica Park.
Key Performers
This match is an exhibition, therefore we won’t only see stars, such as Edinson Cavani, Thiago Silva, Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verratti, Angel Di Maria, Julian Draxler, Daniele De Rossi, and Edin Dzeko, but we will so see plenty of the young up and comers from the respective club’s youth academy. A player of particular interest is 17 year old Timothy Weah. Weah, the son of former Ballon d”Or winner and PSG player, George Weah. Timothy recently signed his first senior level squad contact and will undoubtedly be given time to compete Tuesday night. What makes Timothy’s background even more intriguing is that he’s a United States youth national. Thus, we’ll get a glimpse into the bright future of the US Men’s National Team through this under-18 player.
Other youngsters and coming of age talents to keep an eye on throughout the match is Stephan El Shaarawy, Alisson, Goncalo Guedes, Presnel Kimpembe, and Alphonse Areola. El Shaarawy has played top flight futbol since he broke into Genoa’s senior ranks when he was at the tender age of 16. Thus, expectations were sky-high for the Italian, and as such he’s consistently progressed. However, now at the age of 24, it’s time to see Stephan’s game take another big step forward as the sale of Muhammed Salah should leave El Shaarawy as the new featured winger in Roma’s attack. As for Alisson, the Brazil #1, will now be given full reign of Roma’s net as Wojciech Szczesny has moved back from loan to Arsenal. Meanwhile for Les Parisians, Guedes and Kimpembe should continue to grow as depth squad players for the upcoming campaign. Lastly, Areola will be eyeing a starting role in goal. Last year was something of a horror show for PSG goalkeepers, particularly for Kevin Trapp in the second leg of the Champions League Quarterfinal against Barcelona when he and his squad let in 6 goals. Thus, Areola will be given a legitimate shot at the starting job.
Prediction
Remember that this is an exhibition, thus there’s always the unknown. This is thanks to the expanded rosters being filled by youth academy talent. They will be getting minutes in the match, while, senior squad members work themselves back into top shape. Thus the team will not always be performing at full throttle. With that said, on paper Roma has the advantage between the sticks, but Paris Saint-Germain edges the Italians out in defense, midfield, and in front of goal. Therefore, Weah will lead the way with a game winning goal for Les Bleus! 3-2 Paris Saint-Germain