World soccer giants Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid kickoff tonight at 7:30 p.m. from Ohio Stadium in the third match of the 2016 International Champions Cup. But before the taking the field at Ohio Stadium, the 11-time champions of Europe took the field at MAPFRE Stadium to train on Tuesday night.
PHOTOS: Real Madrid train at MAPFRE Stadium
While the team prepared in the Crew SC dressing room and before they stepped onto the pitch through the players' tunnel, the media met with Real Madrid Manager and soccer legend Zinedine Zidane in a trilingual (English, French and Spanish) press conference. Touching topics as transcendent as the potential transfer of French international Paul Pogba and tonight's starting lineup against PSG, the conversation concluded with Zidane's thoughts on the Club's visit to North America — and Central Ohio in particular.
“We’re happy to be in Columbus," the reigning UEFA Champions League winner and 1998 FIFA Ballon d'Or recipient said. "I think what we have seen is that all around the world we have fans, and we saw them when we got to the hotel. Overall, we’re happy to be here, and to spend a little time with the fans in Columbus.”
This will be the first professional soccer match played at Ohio Stadium since Crew SC’s final match there on September 24, 1998, before moving to MAPFRE Stadium — where Zidane's Real Madrid will spend most of their training time while in the city.
WATCH: Berhalter on International Champions Cup
Black & Gold Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter said an event like this is meaningful to the people of Columbus, and hosting an international soccer team like Real Madrid broadcasts the city to the rest of the world.
“I think it’s great for the city that we hold such big international events," Berhalter said. "This game is going to be shown all over the world, so it speaks highly of Columbus to have a facility and have the willingness and participation by the community to host this game.”
Some of the biggest names in the world of soccer are expected to get minutes in tonight’s friendly clash for Real Madrid, as well as Thiago Silva, Edinson Cavani, and Ángel Di María of PSG.
In a week loaded with soccer in North America, Thursday will see Columbus homegrown midfielder and Crew SC vice-captain Wil Trapp in the 2016 MLS All-Star Game before the Black & Gold visit Toronto FC in the finale of the 2016 Trillium Cup on Sunday in MLS regular season action. All three matches kick off at 7:30 p.m.
