The Japan National Stadium will host a glamour friendly on Tuesday, as French champions Paris Saint-Germain take on Italian giants Inter Milan.
PSG will enter the contest off the back of a 3-2 loss to Cerezo Osaka in their third pre-season game of the summer, while Inter played out a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr last time out.
Match preview
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Kylian Mbappe's absence from PSG's pre-season tour, and his possible exit this summer, continues to overshadow the team's preparations for the new campaign.
Luis Enrique's side have played three friendlies this summer, beating Le Havre 2-0 on July 21 before playing out a goalless draw with Al-Nassr in their first match of their Asia tour.
PSG will enter this game off the back of a disappointing result, though, having lost 3-2 to Cerezo Osaka on Friday, and they will now play two more friendlies before beginning their 2023-24 campaign.
Indeed, the Paris outfit will follow this contest with a clash against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, with their new Ligue 1 season then beginning against Lorient on August 12.
The capital giants have been active this summer, bringing in the likes of Marco Asensio, Milan Skriniar, Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Ugarte, but Mbappe's situation is still dominating the headlines, and it remains to be seen whether the Frenchman will remain with the club beyond the end of the summer window.
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Inter have had their own transfer situations to deal with this summer, with the club losing their number one goalkeeper Andre Onana to Manchester United, while a permanent return for Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku, which had looked very possible at one stage, has now broken down.
The Italian outfit have managed to boost their squad during the current window, though, with Kristjan Asllani, Yann Aurel Bisseck, Davide Frattesi, Francesco Acerbi, Marcus Thuram, Juan Cuadrado and Raffaele di Gennaro all making the move to San Siro.
Last season's Champions League finalists have played twice this summer, thumping Pergolettese 10-0 in their opening friendly on July 21 before drawing 1-1 with Saudi outfit Al-Nassr last time out.
The Black and Blues have two more friendlies to play before opening their Serie A campaign against Monza on August 19, following this contest with a clash against Austrian team Red Bull Salzburg.
Simone Inzaghi's side finished third in Serie A last season but will be aiming to launch a title challenge this term, and the club are seemingly still working to bring in another centre-forward, which could potentially be a game-changer in terms of their aspirations.
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Team News
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Asensio has been trialled as a centre-forward during pre-season, but Hugo Ekitike started in that area against Cerezo Osaka last time out and found the back of the net.
The 21-year-old is again expected to lead the attack in this match, at least from the first whistle, before Enrique shuffles his pack later in the contest.
There will be changes from the side that started the loss to Cerezo Osaka, with Carlos Soler, Achraf Hakimi, Hernandez and Neymar all potentially coming into the XI, but there will be no Marco Verratti, who is closing in on a move to Saudi Arabia.
Mbappe is also absent from the squad, with the France international allegedly being placed on the transfer list, with PSG determined not to lose him on a free transfer next year.
Inter boss Inzaghi, meanwhile, is expected to make a couple of changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Al-Nassr last time out.
Thuram could be introduced in the final third of the field to partner Lautaro Martinez, while fellow new arrival Cuadrado might be handed a start as the right-sided wing-back.
Frattesi scored against Al-Nassr in what was an impressive performance, and the midfielder is set to continue in the middle alongside Hakan Calhanoglu and Nico Barella, with the latter still at the club despite some strong speculation surrounding his future.
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Skriniar, Marquinhos, Hernandez; Vitinha, Ugarte, Soler; Neymar, Ekitike, Asensio
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Stankovic; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Cuadrado, Frattesi, Calhanoglu, Barella, Gosens; Martinez, Thuram
We say: Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Inter Milan
It is always difficult to know exactly what to expect when two massive European teams lock horns during pre-season, but there should be goals in this one. PSG will be keen to bounce back from their defeat last time out, but Inter are certainly good enough to claim a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
