Messi, Neymar and Mbappe looking hungry in training for PSG kick off - in pictures

Parisian stars expected to stroll to another French title

Soccer Football - Paris St Germain Training - Ooredoo Training Centre, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France - August 4, 2022 Paris St Germain's Lionel Messi during training REUTERS / Sarah Meyssonnier

Lionel Messi takes part in a training session at the Camp des Loges sports complex. EPA

PSG's Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos take part in training. EPA

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Christophe Galtier. EPA

PSG's Kylian Mbappe. left, Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Ramos. EPA

PSG midfielder Vitinha. EPA

Leandro Paredes takes a break during training. EPA

Paris Saint-Germain's head coach Christophe Galtier smiles during a press conference at the Camp des Loges. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar attends a training session. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos. AFP

PSG's Vitinha during training. Reuters

PSG's Hugo Ekitike during training. Reuters

A fitter Lionel Messi, and a rejuvenated Neymar and Kylian Mbappe tuned up for the Ligue 1 kick-off with a final training session with their Paris Saint-Germain teammates.

Mbappe's new contract has helped make PSG the runaway favourites to retain their title when the French league season starts off on Friday.

Last season, the Parisians romped to the title with a 15-point advantage over second-placed Olympique Marseille despite Messi failing to impress, Neymar and Mbappe being unsettled and Sergio Ramos missing most of the campaign.

But their galaxy of stars look to have turned a corner and have shown a new lustre, evident on a pre-season tour to Japan and in last Sunday’s emphatic 4-0 Super Cup win over Nantes.

It suggests the chasm between PSG and the rest of Ligue 1 could be even bigger this season, despite a change of coach with Mauricio Pochettino replaced by Christophe Galtier.

Galtier was the last coach to break PSG’s dominance when he took Lille to the title two seasons ago and will have to balance domestic dominance with their Champions League ambitions.

PSG begin their campaign at Clermont on Saturday with the first game of the Ligue 1 season on Friday when Lyon host promoted Ajaccio.

Pictures of the PSG stars in training can be seen in the gallery above. To view the next image, just swipe.