At the Paris Saint-Germain campus, Eupen took a 2-0 lead after just six minutes with goals from Nathan Bitumazala and Scott Kennedy, conceding their first goal in the 13th minute to make it 1-2. Eupen put up a good fight against a technically strong and fast PSG team and had some good chances to score more goals on the counterattack, but they couldn’t make them count.

In the second half, PSG upped the pressure and managed to score two goals to win 3-2, with a penalty for a handball and a direct free kick just before the end of the game.

Head coach Bruno Pinheiro selected only players who did not start on Friday for his starting lineup against PSG’s U23 team. This gave many players in the squad the chance to prove their skills.

KAS Eupen got off to a dream start, scoring 1-0 in the 1st minute. After a defensive error by PSG, Théo Maréchal set up Nathan Bitumazala to score the Pandas’ first goal.

Just five minutes later, AS increased their lead to 2-0. Wedingo headed the ball to Scott Kennedy in the penalty area, who scored from close range to make it 2-0. The lead was extended.

PSG reacted and managed to pull one back in the 13th minute to make it 1-2. A long ball over the AS defense reached a PSG attacker, who found himself alone in front of goalkeeper Manaf Nurudeen and converted.

In the 14th minute, the visitors have another chance to score: Raphael Di Matteo is alone in front of the goalkeeper after a fast break down the right wing, but shoots the ball just wide of the goal.

PSG tries to equalize and gradually takes control of the game with good moves, short passing, and balls into the box. In the 24th minute, Manaf Nurudeen clears a one-on-one situation from close range.

In the 29th minute, Ade Oguns misses a 100% chance, putting the ball just wide of the PSG goal.

Both teams play an open and entertaining game with good chances for both the technically and tactically strong PSG team and KASE, who put up a good fight. There are no more goals before the half-time whistle, so Eupen goes into the break with a 2-1 lead.

Right at the start of the second half, the referee awards a penalty after Raphaël Di Matteo handles the ball in the penalty area. PSG converts the penalty and in the 47th minute the score is 2-2.

After the equalizer, PSG increases the tempo and the pressure on Eupen’s defense, which remains solid.

In the 71st minute, KAS Eupen made a goalkeeper change. After a long injury break and surgery, Julian Renner returned to action for the first time, replacing Manaf Nurudeen.

Ten minutes before the end of regular time, PSG took the lead. A free kick from the edge of the penalty area went into the far corner, giving Paris a 3-2 victory.

After returning from their training camp, KAS Eupen will play their next Challenger Pro League match this coming Saturday, January 17. The Pandas will face league leaders SK Beveren at the Kehrweg Stadium at 8:00 p.m.

The goals:

1st minute: 0-1 Nathan Bitumazala
6th minute: 0-2 Scott Kennedy
13th minute: 1-2
47th minute: 2-2
80th minute: 3-2

KAS Eupen: Manaf Nurudeen (72′ Julian Renner), Scott Kennedy, Gaëtan Hendrickx (61′ Logan Delaurier-Chaubet/84′ Isaac Nuhu), Daniel Kasper (72′ Kevin Möhwald) , Nathan Bitumazala, Ade Oguns (61’ Mondy Prunier), Lorenzo Youndje, Raphaël Di Matteo (72’ Oriol Busquets), Gabriel Barès, Igor Plastun, Théo Maréchal (46’ David Widlarz).