Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the International Champions Cup between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

The International Champions Cup has gotten into full swing over the past few days and many clubs having already played their first game in the competition but tonight it is the turn of European champions Real Madrid, who finally get their pre-season campaign underway with a showdown with PSG, who are coming to the end of their pre-season schedule. It is due to the differing fitness levels that the Ligue 1 winners are favourites to prevail in Ohio but given the class that will be on show in Madrid's side, you can never write them off.

There's just over 20 minutes until kickoff in Columbus so let's take a look at the two teams.

REAL MADRID XI: Casilla, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Casemiro, Kovacic, Lucas Vasquez, Jese, Morata, Isco, Danilo

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN XI: Trapp, Aurier, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Kurzawa, Callegari, Rabiot, Pastore, Lucas, Ikone, Cavani

Zinedine Zidane has decided against including some of his stars players from the opening whistle but that's a very strong side for the first pre-season friendly of the summer. The likes of Marcelo, Isco and Alvaro Morata stick out but there is also a welcome return to action for Raphael Varane, who was forced to miss Euro 2016 through injury.

The PSG team also consists of some notable names with Thiago Silva, Lucas Moura and Edinson Cavani all taking their place in Unai Emery's starting lineup.

As we have already mentioned, PSG are well into their pre-season schedule and they marked their first match of the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Inter Milan last weekend. Emery has made changes from that game but that result must surely act as a significant confidence boost ahead of this game.

After this game, it's a quick turnaround for Real Madrid who face Chelsea on Saturday before they go up against Bayern Munich next week. Five days after that, on August 9, it will be time for the European Super Cup against Sevilla so they are having to cram in four fixtures over a short space of time. Expect plenty of rotation from Zidane...

This was the scene in Columbus around an hour ago. As you can see, the stadium is one of the biggest in the United States and boasts a capacity of 105,000. There are a few empty seats but we must be looking at the stadium being at least three quarters full.

Made it! Ohio Stadium for PSG vs. Real Madrid in the international Champions Cup. #ParisLovesUS pic.twitter.com/wI7erUoU01 — Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) July 27, 2016

The two teams have made their way out onto the pitch. We will be underway very shortly! It's currently 31C in Columbus so don't expect a frenetic pace.

PSG get us underway.

What a start! Real Madrid have barely had a kick and they are already a goal behind. Ikone is slightly fortunate having saw the ball ricochet back off a defender but he takes full advantage by taking it past two Real Madrid players before applying the calm finish past Casilla from inside the penalty area. The 18-year-old is understandably delighted.

Moments after the goal, Isco had an opportunity for Real but he sent his 20-yard strike marginally wide of Trapp's right-hand post. It's been a terrific start in Ohio.

BOOKING! Thiago Silva goes flying into a tackle on the right flank but all he gets for his troubles is a yellow card and an injury. He has undergone treatment for a couple of minutes and it looks like he is having to come off with a hip problem.

SUBSTITUTION! Thomas Meunier is the man chosen to replace his skipper. He is going to slot in at right-back with Aurier moving into the centre.

Real Madrid have been the better side since the goal but PSG have just put together a high-quality move that started in their right-back area and finished on the left-hand side of the penalty area. Unfortunately for PSG, the final pass is too close to Casilla who is able to come out and claim.

BOOKING! Does the referee know this is effectively a friendly? Aurier has now gone into the book for blocking Morata in the right corner. It's extremely harsh.

WOODWORK! What an outstanding save from Knapp. Real up the tempo in the final third and the ball falls invitingly for Kovacic. He opts for the first-time curler towards the far corner but Trapp is there to tip the ball onto the post before claiming it on the rebound.

This has been such a high-quality opening. We shouldn't be getting this type of football at the end of July! I like the look of PSG under Unai Emery.

Another neat move from Real ends with Casemiro getting a shot away from 25 yards but his effort is too weak and too close to Trapp, who deals with the ball at the second opportunity.

SHOT! It's only pre-season so players are entitled to try things and that's exactly what Cavani has done here. Lucas Moura broke down the right before floating the ball towards Cavani, who was standing on the edge of the penalty area. He went for a very ambitious scissor-kick from 16 yards and he got it all wrong, with the ball flying over the crossbar.

CHANCE! Cavani is becoming increasingly influential in this match and he almost doubles PSG's lead after meeting a low cross from Meunier but his near-post effort went no more than three inches past the post.

BOOKING! Kurzawa has gone into the book now! It's a foul but it deserves nothing more than that. There will be uproar on the PSG bench if any of their players are sent off.

After a short "hydration break", the game has been restarted by the referee. Some of these players will be getting substituted at half time so let's see what they have left.

Ikone's opener was something special but this has topped it. A pass from Casemiro on the edge of the box was intercepted by Meunier and after choosing to attempt a speculative effort with his left foot, he found the top corner of Casilla's net from 25 yards out. It's a stunning strike and PSG are in full control of this match.

You are not hallucinating - Real Madrid are really 3-0 down inside 40 minutes. We talked about the differing fitness levels before kickoff and it is showing. Meunier was sent clear down the right flank and although his attempted cutback to Cavani was blocked, it rebounded back into his path and he fired the ball into an empty net.

WOODWORK! I think Trapp had it covered had the ball been on its way to the bottom corner but Isco's deflected strike did strike the outside of the post before going behind.

Real Madrid have one back! Aurier was only a yard or so from the ball but he moved his arm into the path of the cross and it is an easy decision for the referee. Marcelo took on the responsibility for the kick and powered the ball into the corner, despite the best efforts of Trapp.

We have one minute remaining of an additional three.

The half-time whistle goes in Columbus and we can all finally draw a breath. You will have to go some way to find a more entertaining 45 minutes than what Real Madrid and PSG have dished up and we will hopefully get the same after the restart.

Zidane has made mass changes at half time. I won't attempt to bring them you in full detail but keep your eye out for them in the second half. Many of them are from the side's academy.

We are nearing the 20-minute mark but PSG are only just returning to the pitch. They have also made alterations, with Di Maria and Stambouli both entering the fray.

Real Madrid get us back underway.

It's extremely difficult to identify many of the Real Madrid youngsters because they are wearing shirts without numbers. What we do know is that Enzo Zidane - the son of Zinedine - is on as well as Martin Odegaard.

Despite the lack of experience, Real Madrid are bossing this second half so far. Many of the newcomers look eager to impress and why wouldn't they? They are playing in front of 80,000 supporters in Columbus.

CHANCE! PSG very nearly find a fourth when Real old boy Di Maria finds the run of Cavani but the Uruguayan's volley is well smothered by the goalkeeper.

SHOT! Zidane must be extremely pleased with the start that his youngsters have made. The ball just fell to Asensio on the edge of the penalty area with the 20-year-old shot towards the far corner just evading the far post.

SHOT! Asensio looks to have a wand of a left foot. Moments after almost finding the bottom corner, he tries his luck from the other side of the penalty area but he sees his effort tipped over by Trapp.

We have moved past the hour mark in Columbus and despite all of the substitutions, this is still a tremendous spectacle. We surely have more goals to come...

PSG are pushing for a fourth - and have had the ball in the net only for Cavani's effort to be disallowed for offside - but the Real backline are looking resolute. They really are doing Zidane proud.

CHANCE! Meunier and Cavani look to have already struck up a partnership but the frontman still can't find a goal. On this occasion, he ran onto a slide-rule pass from the full-back, only to send his shot wide of the near post.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Emery shuffles his pack by introducing four or five new PSG players, including Ben Arfa. Cavani is among those who has been replaced.

The official attendance has been announced at 86,641.

The crowd are growing impatient with the amount of neat passing that is taking place in the middle third. That shows how spoilt they were in the first half!

BOOKING! The referee can't resist booking another PSG player and this time, it's Benjamin Stambouli who goes into the book for a late challenge around 40 yards from goal.

Less than 10 minutes to go now. It doesn't look like we are going to get a "hydration break" this half.

The supporters are trying to entertain themselves with the Iceland clap. In the space of less than two minutes, it is being heard worldwide. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing...

I think we've had all of the goalmouth action that we are going to get. Real are still trying to find a second but they are being outclassed and overpowered now.

The full-time whistle goes in Columbus and PSG have eased to a 3-1 win over Real Madrid. The Ligue 1 champions are fully deserving of their victory but Zidane will be delighted with the contribution of his youngsters, who all impressed during a second half which featured no goals.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.