Monaco trounced 4-0 by PSG in China

Monaco FC

Paris Saint-Germain’s new coach Thomas Tuchel made a successful start on Saturday, August 4, with a comprehensive 4-0 win over AS Monaco in the French Super Cup at Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre.

Angel Di Maria scored twice as Tuchel, who was appointed to replace Unai Emery ahead of the new season, steered PSG to a record-equalling eighth Super Cup win and handed Neymar a cameo appearance at the end of the second half, ESPN reports.

The Brazilian was not given a place in the starting line-up having just returned to training this week following the World Cup in Russia, while neither Kylian Mbappe nor Edinson Cavani travelled to China with the rest of the squad.

New arrival Gianluigi Buffon did start between the posts for his new team after signing in the close season from Juventus, but had little to do in a game dominated by France’s domestic treble winners against last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up.

Monaco FC

Di Maria had been a lively presence throughout the first half and the Argentine opened the scoring 12 minutes before the break when he capitalised on a foul on Adrien Rabiot to stroke his curling free kick over the wall and beyond Diego Benaglio.

Seven minutes later Christopher Nkunku sent home PSG’s second from close range as his side took a two-goal cushion into halftime. Midway through the second half, Timothy Weah put the result beyond doubt when he slipped the ball through Benaglio’s legs from eight yards to make the most of Stanley N’Soki’s darting run and cutback from the touchline.