The 2019-20 French football season gets underway in the Chinese city of Shenzhen on Saturday as Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain take on Coupe de France holders Rennes in the Trophee des Champions.
PSG have utterly dominated domestic football in recent years and are looking to lift this particular trophy for a record seventh successive season, but Rennes stunned them in the cup final last term and will hope to capitalise on a disrupted pre-season for the French champions.
Match preview
© Reuters
It is no longer unusual for PSG's off-season to be dominated by off-the-pitch headlines, but this summer has been particularly notable for the saga surrounding Neymar.
The world's most expensive player is in the headlines seemingly on a daily basis as speculation linking him with a return to Barcelona continues to grow, and the latest reports suggest that he has refused to play for PSG again.
The club themselves have made no effort to disguise the fact that Neymar wants out just two years after arriving for £200m, and that may largely be down to the fact that they have someone who has arguably already surpassed the Brazilian former talisman.
Kylian Mbappe's prodigious start to his career continued in 2018-19 with 39 goals in 43 appearances for PSG, including 33 in just 29 Ligue 1 outings.
The Frenchman's form has been so impressive that even Neymar is considered somewhat dispensable, and Saturday's match gives the 20-year-old another chance to prove that he deserves top billing in the French capital.
Mbappe was a huge reason behind PSG winning a sixth title in the past seven years last term, once again making it into a one-horse race early on before coasting over the line and winning the title by 16 points.
However, whereas their dominance of French football had been total before the 2018-19 campaign - they had won 18 of the previous 20 domestic trophies on offer to them - last term they had to make do with 'only' one piece of silverware.
Rennes were a major reason behind that, springing a huge shock in the Coupe de France final to win on penalties having been 2-0 down at one stage.
It was the club's first major trophy since they last won the cup in 1970-71, when incidentally they went on win the Trophee des Champions too.
Such a result was very much a one-off, though, and if the gulf in class was not evident enough by the 39-point gap which separated them in the league last season, their respective records in this curtain-raiser helps to drive it home.
The 1971 success was Rennes' only victory in this competition, whereas PSG are looking to take the trophy home for a seventh time in a row and a ninth time overall - both of which would see them move ahead of Lyon as outright record-holders.
Thomas Tuchel's side understandably remain firm favourites, then, but Rennes should take belief from their most recent meeting with the capital giants.
PSG form: WDLW
Rennes form: DLL
Team News
© Reuters
Neymar is back at the club and almost at full fitness following the ankle injury which forced him to miss Brazil's victorious Copa America campaign, but whether he plays or not is another matter.
The Brazilian may well have played his final game for the club already, and if he does stay for another season then it will take time to integrate such a wantaway player back into the side.
Others who were also on international duty this summer - including captain Thiago Silva - may also be given extra rest ahead of the start of the new league season.
In brighter news for PSG, Mbappe and Edinson Cavani both scored in their last pre-season outing, while new signings Ander Herrera, Abdou Diallo and Pablo Sarabia have already begun to settle in well.
Idrissa Gueye is a newer arrival from Everton and could make his debut, although he may not feature from the start.
Rennes are able to go into the match with no injury concerns or off-the-field sagas to worry about, but they will be without Hatem Ben Arfa after he left the club at the end of last season.
M'Baye Niang has joined on a permanent deal, though, while fellow summer arrival Flavien Tait will be hopeful of making his competitive debut.
Possible PSG lineup: Trapp; Meunier, Kehrer, Diallo, Kurzawa; Sarabia, Kouassi, Herrera, Draxler, Mbappe; Cavani
Possible Rennes lineup: Koubek; Traore, Da Silva, Gelin, Bensebaini; Sarr, Tait, Grenier, Del Castillo; Honou, Niang
We say: PSG 4-0 Rennes
PSG have won 11 of their last 13 competitive meetings with Rennes and will be out for revenge after being denied the domestic double in May. Rennes are yet to even score in pre-season and, Neymar or no Neymar, it is hard to see past PSG for this match.
No Data Analysis info
