Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) delivered a resounding statement of intent on Wednesday, July 9, dismantling Real Madrid with a dominant 4-0 victory in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal. The emphatic win at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, propels the reigning European champions into the final, where they will face English side Chelsea on Sunday, July 13, at the same venue.
From the opening whistle, PSG, under the guidance of coach Luis Enrique, asserted their control, demonstrating why they are considered the “undisputed best team in the world” (Yahoo Sports). The Parisians wasted no time in finding the net, with Fabián Ruiz opening the scoring in the 6th minute. Just three minutes later, Ballon d’Or contender Ousmane Dembélé doubled PSG’s lead, capitalizing on a defensive error from Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger (Goal.com, The Athletic). Ruiz then secured his brace in the 24th minute, finishing a breathtaking team move that further exposed Real Madrid’s vulnerabilities and gave PSG a commanding 3-0 lead before the half-hour mark (USA Today).
PSG’s dominance was a continuation of their historic 2024-2025 season, which has already seen them lift the French league title, the French Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. Their cohesive play, aggressive pressing, and dynamic possession were on full display, even as they appeared to “downshift in the second half” (Yahoo Sports). Substitute Gonçalo Ramos added a fourth goal in the 88th minute, capping off a comprehensive victory that equaled Real Madrid’s biggest defeat of the season (The Athletic).
For Real Madrid, the 2024 UEFA Champions League winners, the match was a stark reminder of the challenges facing new coach Xabi Alonso in his inaugural tournament. The Spanish giants were notably hampered by the absence of two key defenders: Dean Huijsen, suspended after a red card in the quarterfinals, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, sidelined due to a practice injury (USA Today). However, their struggles went beyond personnel, with defensive errors from Raul Asencio and Antonio Rüdiger directly leading to early goals. Star attackers Kylian Mbappé, playing his first match against his former club since joining Real Madrid, and Vinicius Jr. were largely ineffective, with critics pointing to their “lack of defensive intensity” as a contributing factor to Madrid’s unraveling (The Athletic).
The match also marked a poignant moment for Real Madrid legend Luka Modric, who made his final appearance for the club, coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute. His exit, after 13 seasons, was a quiet one amidst the team’s overwhelming defeat, a stark contrast to the celebratory farewells often afforded to players of his stature (The Athletic).
Despite the scorching heat and humidity in New Jersey, conditions that PSG coach Luis Enrique acknowledged were “not good for the spectacle” but “the same for both teams” (USA Today), PSG maintained their composure and tactical superiority. Their comprehensive victory sets up an intriguing final against Chelsea, who secured their spot by defeating Fluminense. While Chelsea has a history of winning big finals against the odds, PSG will undoubtedly enter Sunday’s showdown as overwhelming favorites, aiming to add the Club World Cup to their impressive collection of trophies from the 2024-2025 season.
