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European roundup: Man City stunned by Leicester, PSG win French season opener
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Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel lifts the FA Community Shield following their win over Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London, England, August 7, 2021. /CFP

Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel lifts the FA Community Shield following their win over Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London, England, August 7, 2021. /CFP

Jack Grealish's Manchester City debut was spoiled by Kelechi Iheanacho as the Leicester striker's late penalty clinched a 1-0 win in the Community Shield on Saturday.

All eyes were on Grealish when he came on as a second-half substitute following his record $139 million move from Aston Villa on Thursday. After training with his new teammates for the first time on Friday, Grealish replaced Sam Edozie in the 65th minute and looked lively in his cameo appearance.

Grealish, the most expensive English player of all-time, carried more threat than any of his teammates. But Grealish's first game in a City shirt ended in disappointment as Iheanacho netted the last-minute winner from the penalty spot after the Nigerian was hauled down by Nathan Ake.

"He was really good. Aggressive, going against full-backs, every time he had the ball he had three players around him. Step by step he will find his best," City manager Pep Guardiola said.

Defeat in the annual curtain-raiser to the English top-flight season will matter little to City if they can replicate last term's superb form, which carried them to Premier League and League Cup glory.

"I saw many good things today. I don't think we played badly, and I told the guys how proud I am. But in this business you need to win," Guardiola said. "We know we will not be at our best, but the players will be better next Sunday. That is the process we have to do."

The Champions League runners-up start their title defense at Tottenham on August 15 with an unsettled look that will concern Guardiola privately.

Jack Grealish in action during the the FA Community Shield between Manchester City and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium in London, England, August 7, 2021. /CFP

Jack Grealish in action during the the FA Community Shield between Manchester City and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium in London, England, August 7, 2021. /CFP

In France, Mauro Icardi's goal secured a 2-1 victory for PSG against newly-promoted Troyes in their opening game of the new Ligue 1 season.

Second-tier champions Troyes had gone in front inside eight minutes to the delight of their fans at the Stade de l'Aube when Moroccan defender Oualid El Hajjam headed home at a corner.

However, PSG were back level in the 19th minute thanks to a thumping finish by their own Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi, the right-back signed from Inter Milan for a reported $71 million last month.

Icardi then scored what proved to be the winner just two minutes later, controlling a Kylian Mbappe cutback and slotting home.

With Neymar not involved having only just returned from an extended break following the Copa America in Brazil, PSG were nowhere near full strength and they were not given an easy ride by Troyes, a club that is part of the City Football Group network of clubs including Manchester City.

Mbappe did start alongside Icardi and Julian Draxler in the PSG attack, while summer signings Hakimi and Georginio Wijnaldum lined up at right-back and in midfield respectively. PSG did enough but they also had goalkeeper Keylor Navas to thank, notably for a save from Renaud Ripart late on.

Pochettino's side are trying to reclaim the Ligue 1 crown from Lille who start their title defense on Sunday against Metz.

Earlier on Saturday Lyon were held to a 1-1 draw by Brest in their opening game of the campaign.

Achraf Hakimi during the Ligue 1 match between Troyes and Paris at Stade de l'Aube in Troyes, France, August 7, 2021. /CFP

Achraf Hakimi during the Ligue 1 match between Troyes and Paris at Stade de l'Aube in Troyes, France, August 7, 2021. /CFP

Elsewhere, Erling Braut Haaland hit a hat-trick as holders Borussia Dortmund eased past minnows Wehen Wiesbaden with a 3-0 win in the first round of the German Cup.

Since joining in January 2020, the Norway goal-machine has scored 60 times in the same number of Dortmund games, including seven goals in six German Cup matches.

A week before the new Bundesliga season kicks off, Dortmund breezed into the next round of the cup.

Earlier, Jesse Marsch made a successful start in his maiden competitive game as head coach of last season's runners-up RB Leipzig with a 4-0 away romp at second division Sandhausen.

The American has replaced new Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann at Leipzig, who finished runners up in the Bundesliga and German Cup last season.

Bayern Munich's first-round tie on Friday has been postponed until August 25 after fifth-tier opponents Bremer were quarantined due to cases of the coronavirus.

Source(s): AFP

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