Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi. (Photo : Getty Images)
European giants Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain will begin the 2016 International Champions Cup competitions in the United States on Sunday, July 24 as they meet at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
Both teams are coming off victories in separate friendly matches and are said to be eager to test each other's strengths and weaknesses before embarking on their respective domestic club competitions next month.
I Nerazzurri had been busy this month with three friendlies already under their belt before this ICC match with Les Parisiens. They faced Austrian Erste Liga champions WSG Wattens to a 0-0 draw on July 9 before dropping a 1-2 decision to Bulgarian First League club PFC CSKA Sofia on the 15th.
Their most recent game was a 2-1 win over Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah on Wednesday, the MLS official website reported.
Midfielder Jordan Allen opened the scoring for the Royals at the 18th minute, but the next two goals belonged to Inter to pull off the friendly win. Italian defender Danilo D'Ambrosio equalized the match three minutes before halftime while Montenegrin striker Stevan Jovetic scored the winner in injury time for head coach Roberto Mancini's side.
Meanwhile, the reigning four-straight Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have just begun their preseason on July 14 with a close 2-1 decision over English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion at the Athletic Area in Schladming, Austria, as per Daily Mail Online.
The match was the debut of new head coach Unai Emery, who came from Sevilla last season to take over from multi-awarded manager Laurent Blanc. Blanc resigned at the end of the last term after the team captured their fourth consecutive French domestic title.
David Luiz's own goal opened the scoring for West Brom in the 15th minute of the contest but two goals in the second half, courtesy of Adrien Rabiot and Lucas Moura at the 62nd and 79th minutes, put PSG for good.
Despite the game being an exhibition one, it is expected that Inter and PSG will assess each other's strategies against each one's world-class pedigrees. Strikers Mauro Icardi and Edinson Cavani will be a joy to watch for the fans.
The predicted result is a 2-1 victory for Inter Milan.
Inter Milan starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Handanovic; Miranda, D'Ambrosio, Ansaldi, Ranocchia; Erkin, Biabiany, Kondogbia, Melo; Icardi, Palacio
Paris Saint-Germain starting lineup (4-4-1-1 formation): Trapp; Sabaly, Luiz, Kimpembe, Kurzawa; Ikone, Stambouli, Callegari, de Sa; Arfa; Cavani
