Mueez Ajao

– Paris Saint-Germain needed two late goals to scrape a 3-1 win at third-tier Châteauroux in the French Cup round of 64 on Friday.

– PSG coach Christophe Galtier rested star forwards Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and Lionel Messi yet still started with seven international players against a side sitting in a lowly 14th place in the third division.

– PSG has won the cup a record 14 times but was knocked out in the round of 16 last season.

Also Read: Mbappe rescues PSG at the death as Neymar sees red

– With no extra time in the early rounds, Châteauroux was getting on top of the game and a penalty shootout loomed.

– But PSG midfielder Carlos Soler pounced from close range in the 78th minute, and left back Juan Bernat ensured victory with a neat finish in stoppage time.

– Galtier hinted at some complacency within his team.

– “Imagine if we hadn’t qualified. At one stage our team was split in half and that gave them confidence,” Galtier said. “Did we think things would be easy once we took the lead? Perhaps.”

– Galtier picked three teenagers: 16-year-old Warren Zaïre-Emery started in midfield alongside 18-year-old Ismaël Gharbi, with 17-year-old El Chadaille Bitshiabu in central defense.

🆕 At 16 years, 9 months and 29 days, Warren Zaire-Emery has become the youngest player in history to start an official game with Paris Saint-Germain, beating the previous record of Mamadou Sakho (17 years and 1 day). ❤️💙

🏆 #LBCPSG I #CoupeDeFrance pic.twitter.com/J9UoWyjPgZ

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 6, 2023

– The match started well enough for PSG when Gharbi threaded a neat pass for striker Hugo Ekitiké to score in the 13th.

– But poor defending gifted Châteauroux an equalizer in the 37th, when veteran forward Nolan Roux’s cross from the left caused panic and Bitshiabu deflected the loose ball past goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Roux nearly scored moments later with a speculative shot just past the post, with Navas stranded.

✅It's over! 3-1 win for the Parisians in Châteauroux and qualification for the round of 16 of the #CoupeDeFrance! ❤️💙

⚽️ @hekitike9
⚽️ @Carlos10Soler
⚽️ Juan Bernat

🏆 #LBCPSG pic.twitter.com/RiUQfd35sr

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 6, 2023

– There was an upset elsewhere as second-tier Pau beat first-division Montpellier 2-1 at home.

– Meanwhile, Angers beat Strasbourg on penalties in an all-first division game after a 0-0 draw.

– In all-second division encounters, Paris FC beat Valenciennes 3-1 at home and Grenoble won against visiting Nimes 1-0.

Le @AngersSCO, 4ème qualifié pour les 16es de finale de la #CoupeDeFrance !

Les angevins s'imposent 5 tirs au but à 4 ✅ pic.twitter.com/VlHxoVxKgK

— Coupe de France (@coupedefrance) January 6, 2023

Mueez Ajao

– As announced by the club, Paris Saint-Germain have signed Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler on a 5-year deal. The move is worth an €18m plus €3m add-ons. He said the following after completing his PSG move:

🆕✍️ Le Paris Saint-Germain est heureux d’annoncer la signature de l’international espagnol @Carlos10Soler. Le milieu offensif du Valencia CF s’est engagé avec le club de la capitale jusqu’en 2027.#WelcomeCarlos

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) September 1, 2022

– “I’m very happy! It’s a new adventure in my career. I feel very proud and I’m looking forward to starting work with my teammates, meeting them, and giving everything for this shirt. On Tuesday, we’re playing our first Champions League game at the Parc des Princes, and it’ll be an opportunity for me to get to know it. I’m certain that it’ll be a great party for everyone and for the fans.”

Après avoir paraphé son contrat avec le Paris Saint-Germain, @Carlos10Soler a livré ses premières impressions. ⤵️🔴🔵#WelcomeCarlos

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) September 1, 2022

– According to Fabrizio Romano Paris Saint-Germain were set days ago to sign the Valencia midfielder for a fee of €18m plus €3m add-ons, with the 25-year old signing on a 5-year deal in the French capital.

Also Read: OFFICIAL: Fabian Ruiz joins PSG from Napoli

– The 25-year-old Spain international (nine caps, three goals) has just one year left on his current contract at Valencia and his availability this summer was considered a major market opportunity by the Paris club. PSG see the player as more of a creator than an organising midfielder and he would be part of the midfield rotation within the squad say the sports daily.

La première journée de @Carlos10Soler à Paris ! 🔴🔵@Aspetar#WelcomeCarlos pic.twitter.com/RrhPQReKta

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) September 1, 2022

– The central midfielder has played 225 senior games for the La Liga outfit having graduated from the club’s youth system. In that time he’s provided 36 goals and 31 assists across all competitions.

✍️🔴🔵 Welcome @Carlos10Soler! #WelcomeCarlos pic.twitter.com/by8XWvVjvp

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) September 1, 2022

Mueez Ajao

– Spain saw off the Czech Republic at La Rosaleda Stadium in Malaga to move into top spot in Nations League Group A2.

– Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler slotted in from Marco Asensio’s pass to open the scoring before substitute Pablo Sarabia doubled the hosts’ lead.

– The 30-year-old tapped in from close range after Barcelona winger Ferran Torres flashed a ball across goal.

Also Read: Spain rescue late point in Czech Republic

– Spain were dominant, enjoying 72% of possession, and Sarabia curled another narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

– The visitors did have chances of their own in the first half, but Vaclav Cerny and Jan Kutcha both failed to convert.

– Victory for Luis Enrique’s side saw them leapfrog Portugal, who were beaten by Switzerland.