Lionel Messi on target as PSG beat Kawasaki Frontale in Japan - in pictures

Argentine starts match alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe as Ligue 1 champions win 2-1

Lionel Messi scores Paris Saint-Germain's first goal in their 2-1 friendly win over Kawasaki Frontale at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on Wednesday, July 2022. EPA

PSG captain Marquinhos during the pre-season friendly against Kawasaki Frontale. Getty

PSG forward Arnaud Kalimuendo celebrates scoring with Lionel Messi. AFP

PSG defender Sergio Ramos during the match. Getty

Lionel Messi celebrates his goal with PSG teammates Presnel Kimpembe and Neymar. AFP

PSG's Danilo Pereira heads the ball during the friendly in Tokyo. AP

PSG striker Kylian Mbappe shoots at goal. AP

PSG's Brazilian forward Neymar pichs up a knock during the match. AFP

Lionel Messi celebrates with Sergio Ramos after scoring. Getty

Kawasaki's Kei Chinen under pressure of Pablo Sarabia of Paris Saint-Germain. Getty

Paris Saint-Germain's Lionel Messi attempts to get the ball past Kawasaki Flontale's goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong during a friendly soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Kawasaki Frontale at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, (AP Photo / Eugene Hoshiko)

PSG's French forward Arnaud Kalimuendo celebrates after scoring. AFP

New PSG manager Christophe Galtier. Getty

PSG defender Marquinhos. Getty

PSG attacker Neymar battles for the ball with Kawasaki Flontale's Shintaro Kurumaya. AP

PSG forward Kylian Mbappe controls the ball. AFP

Mauro Icardi of PSG is tackled by Kawasaki Frontale's Kazuki Kozuka. Getty

PSG's Lionel Messi has a shot at goal blocked by Kento Tachibanada of Kawasaki Flontale. AP

Kawasaki Frontale's Kazuya Yamamura celebrates scoring with Kento Tachibanada. Reuters

PSG attacker Lionel Messi under pressure from Kawasaki Flontale's Kento Tachibanada. AP

PSG's Kylian Mbappe sees his shot saved by Kawasaki Flontale goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong. AP

PSG attacker Neymar under pressure from Kenta Tachibanada of Kawasaki Frontale. Getty

PSG attacker Lionel Messi on the attack. Getty

Chanathip Songkrasin of Kawasaki Frontale under pressure from PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye. Getty

The Paris Saint-Germain players line-up before the match. AP

Lionel Messi was on target for Paris Saint-Germain as the Ligue 1 champions defeated Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 in the first match of their pre-season tour of Japan on Wednesday.

PSG's attacking trio of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe all started in new PSG manager Christophe Galtier's first game in charge of a full squad in front of 65,000 fans at Tokyo's National Stadium.

Messi opened the scoring with a 32nd-minute shot but a much-changed PSG line-up in the second half could manage only one more goal through substitute Arnaud Kalimuendo.

J-League champions Kawasaki pulled a goal back in the 84th minute when Kazuya Yamamura headed home unmarked.

PSG will play two more J-League sides on the tour, taking on Urawa Reds in Saitama on Saturday and Gamba Osaka in Osaka the following Monday.

PSG had most of the early possession but the first real chance fell to Kawasaki. A pass forward split the PSG defence and released striker Marcinho, only for the Brazilian to put the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.

Kawasaki goalkeeper Jung Song-ryong saved from Mbappe a minute later after Messi had played the France attacker in on goal.

Kawasaki's Chanathip Songkrasin – nicknamed the “Thai Messi” – then cleared a shot from the Argentine off the line to prevent PSG taking the lead.

But Messi did find a way through shortly after. Mbappe jinked inside from the left and clipped in a deep cross to Achraf Hakimi, who volleyed the ball back to Messi whose right-foot shot took a deflection before hitting the back of the net.

Neymar and Mbappe came off at half-time and Kawasaki forward Kei Chinen missed a glorious chance to equalise when he blazed over the bar in the 50th minute.

Substitute Kalimuendo doubled PSG's lead when he turned home Juan Bernat's low cross in the 58th minute, before Yamamura pulled one back with six minutes left to play.