Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain suffer Spanish setbacks before new season

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain both endured heavy defeats against Spanish opposition on Wednesday as the two sides continued their preparations for the new season.

The two teams, who contested the final of the latest UEFA Champions League campaign, were beaten by three goals in separate friendly matches. Arsenal lost 3-1 to Real Betis at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, while Paris Saint-Germain were defeated 3-0 by Real Mallorca at Son Moix in Spain.

Arsenal’s defeat came despite taking part in a match staged in the Irish capital, with Real Betis producing an impressive first-half display to establish a decisive advantage.

Rodrigo Riquelme opened the scoring for Real Betis after nine minutes. Nelson Deossa then doubled the Spanish side’s lead in the 26th minute, putting Arsenal under further pressure before the interval.

Arsenal pulled a goal back through Piero Hincapie in the 32nd minute, giving them a chance to recover in the second half. However, Pablo Fornals restored Real Betis’ two-goal advantage three minutes before half-time, scoring in the 43rd minute.

That proved to be the final goal of the contest as Real Betis secured a 3-1 victory in the friendly, which formed part of both teams’ preparations for the upcoming campaign.

Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, suffered an even more emphatic loss against Real Mallorca.

The Spanish club took the lead in the 21st minute through Zito Luvumbo before Jan Virgili extended their advantage nine minutes before half-time. Antonio Jose completed the scoring six minutes after the restart, making it 3-0 in the 51st minute.

The match was played at Son Moix and was also arranged as part of the preparations for the start of the new season. Paris Saint-Germain were unable to find a response as Real Mallorca completed a convincing victory.

The results provide an early setback for both clubs as they build towards their domestic campaigns. Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain had met in the final of the most recent UEFA Champions League, where the French side eventually claimed the trophy.

Paris Saint-Germain won the competition for the second time in their history after beating Arsenal on penalties. The shootout finished 4-3 in their favour after the final had ended 1-1 following both normal time and extra time.

Wednesday’s two friendlies therefore ended with Spanish opposition celebrating against both teams involved in that final. Real Betis scored three times against Arsenal, while Real Mallorca matched that total against Paris Saint-Germain without conceding.