📝 Bayern Munich 3-1 PSG: Renato Sanches scores in friendly victory | OneFootball

Renato Sanches repaid Niko Kovač’s faith by scoring an impressive free-kick for Bayern Munich against PSG in the International Champions Cup.

The Portuguese midfielder, back in the Bayern set-up after a poor loan spell with Premier League Swansea, whipped a set-piece into the back of the net to win the game for the Germans; though it must be said, the PSG wall and deputy goalkeeper should have done better.

Timothy Weah had put the French ahead, slotting home after excellent work from Kévin Rimane in a game which was slow to live up to it’s early billing.

The game was much more of a spectacle in the second half as Javi Martínez scored a powerful header to deny Gianluigi Buffon his first clean sheet for the French side before Sanches scored against substitute stopper Rémy Descamps. Young striker Joshua Zirkzee extended the lead for Bayern as he netted Serge Gnabry’s cross for a comprehensive win.

0-1: Timothy Weah 31′

1-1: Javi Martínez 60′

2-1: Renato Sanches 67′

3-1: Joshua Zirkzee 77′

The first-half lacked much excitement as the two teams looked to find their stride in the International Champions Cup.

Buffon was called into action on 12 minutes as he dived to palm Oliver Batista-Meier’s scuffed shot away from danger before easily catching Sandro Wagner’s tame left-foot effort from an unkind angle after Bayern dispossessed Adrien Rabiot.

PSG’s Timothy Weah then ballooned a shot high over the bar minutes later before Franck Ribéry, captaining Bayern, was laid off in acres of space down the other end but his rifled shot spun wide of the target, much to his frustration.

In one of few first-half moments of note, Rabiot climbed high to head Christopher Nkunku’s out-swinging corner but the midfielder was unable to get enough of a connection on the ball and failed to test Ulreich. Despite the tame showing from both sides, this young, inexperienced PSG XI was holding it’s own.

The second-half started much brighter as towering Bayern centre-forward Wagner struck the bar with a potshot before glancing Arjen Robben’s corner wide.

Nkuku missed a golden opportunity to double the lead for the Ligue 1 giants on 50 minutes as the ball bypassed everyone in the box and fell kindly at his feet but he side-footed the ball the wrong side of the post. The same player then spurned another chance, firing over.

Bayern made PSG pay for the missed opportunities on the hour mark as Javi Martínez powerfully headed home a corner to deny Buffon a clean sheet in navy blue and red.

PSG then subbed Buffon off with 23 minutes left to play and conceded 60 seconds later, punished after shoddily setting up for a Bayern free-kick.

Renato Sanches struck the ball well with plenty of curl and pace but young stopper Rémy Descamps and the PSG wall should have done better in stopping it.

Not that Bayern or Sanches will care; the 20-year-old will be keen to catch the eye in this summer’s tournament as he looks to rebuild his reputation in the Bundesliga.

Joshua Zirkzee, just 17, then put the gloss on a solid second-half performance for Bayern as he confidently converted a cross from fellow substitutue Serge Gnabry, directing the ball past Descamps.

Man of the Match: Renato Sanches

The young midfielder made a good start to life back at Bayern having been given the backing of his new manager Kovač.