Watch: Ikone, Meunier give PSG control vs. Real Madrid in ICC
Over 86,000 fans packed Ohio Stadium in Columbus to see Real Madrid take on Paris Saint-Germain in the International Champions Cup, and those expecting fireworks got what they came to witness, and early.
Jonathan Ikone and Thomas Meunier scored in the opening half to seize control in a 3-1 win for PSG, which won the preseason friendly competition's U.S. edition a summer ago (Real won the China and Australia legs). Ikone, 18, weaved through Real Madrid defenders, played a fortuitous deflection and finished calmly to open the scoring in just the second minute.
Meunier, a new signing after his strong showing for Belgium at Euro 2016, added two more after coming on for an injured Thiago Silva, including a rifled shot from distance after intercepting a pass in Real Madrid's final third:
Defending Champions League winner Real Madrid, playing without the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric (among others), got on the board at the end of the first half through a Marcelo penalty kick.
A pair of notable subs came on for Real Madrid in the second half, with Zinedine Zidane's son, Enzo, and 17-year-old Norwegian prodigy Martin Odegaard checking in. Odegaard is reportedly going out on loan after Real Madrid concludes its ICC trip.