Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) continues its dominant run, leaving a trail of defeated European powerhouses in its wake. Now, only Chelsea stands between them and the title of world champions.
In a match played in the intense heat of New Jersey, PSG showcased the form that has defined their year. Within the first 24 minutes, they had already scored three goals against Real Madrid, establishing a lead they never relinquished. Substitute Gonçalo Ramos added a fourth goal late in the game, sealing a resounding victory.
Real Madrid's stars, including Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and former PSG player Kylian Mbappé, endured a difficult afternoon. They join a list of top teams, including Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal, who have fallen to PSG in the Champions League this season. Chelsea faces a daunting task in trying to avoid a similar fate.
Enzo Maresca's Chelsea will need to deliver an exceptional performance to win the final of the new FIFA Club World Cup, held at MetLife Stadium. PSG entered the match as the clear favorite.
PSG's current form presents an even greater challenge than the one Chelsea overcame in 2012 when they defeated Bayern Munich on their home turf to win their first Champions League title. PSG is not only the champion of France and Europe, but it is also redefining modern soccer with its style of play.
Real Madrid struggled throughout the match, conceding two goals due to defensive errors. Fabián Ruiz scored the first goal, followed by Ousmane Dembélé, who once again delivered an outstanding performance. Ruiz added a third goal, effectively ending the game by halftime, at which point PSG had completed 394 passes compared to Real Madrid's 109.
Real Madrid failed to create any significant scoring opportunities, and the game remained relatively uneventful until Ramos scored on a late counter-attack.
Post-Match Reactions
Real Madrid's new head coach, Xabi Alonso, acknowledged PSG's strength, stating, "I would say they have been elevated in terms of performance for a couple of years, and since February, they are playing at a top, top level. We are not the first to have a big defeat against them. It has been really tough to play against them. It is going to be the challenge, and we have lots of things to improve, and we will face that."
Alonso emphasized the need for his team to develop a cohesive unit. "We want to build a team that plays as a unit, with everyone together and involved. The Club World Cup was interesting, very demanding, and we made it this far. We were one match away from the final, and it was painful. Let’s see what happens now."
He added, "They [PSG] are playing at a great level, as they showed in the knockout of the Champions League and also throughout this tournament. We must accept they are in a really good moment. We are starting on a new stage, and all the data from this competition I will look at. Then we need time to reset, and we will start from scratch."
PSG head coach Luis Enrique praised Dembélé's potential to win the Ballon d’Or: "To win it, you have to score goals and get assists, and they have to bring silverware to their teams. That is Ousmane Dembélé, and he is far and away above other players in my opinion."
Luis Enrique's Perspective
Enrique expressed his satisfaction with the victory, acknowledging the difficulty of playing against Real Madrid. "I feel great. It’s always difficult to play against Real Madrid. We started the game very well, and we’re happy with the performance."
He also commented on the weather conditions, "The heat is too much for me. You need to play in different conditions if you want a better show. But both teams gave everything. We are in a special moment, and I think we deserved to win."
Regarding Dembélé, Enrique stated, "It’s the first game in this World Cup that we could use Ousmane [Dembele] from the start. This season he’s the best player [in the world], he deserves to win everything." He concluded, "One more step against a good team like Chelsea. We want to make history and then go on holiday!"
Fabian Ruiz's Thoughts
Fabian Ruiz shared his excitement after the game: "It was an incredible game – a perfect performance considering the heat and the temperature, and playing against such a great team. I’m happy to score the goals, but I’m most happy with the win and being in the final. It will be difficult against Chelsea. We know they’re a good team, but hopefully, we can win it and finish the season in style."
Match Summary
- The referee blew the final whistle right at the 90-minute mark.
- PSG delivered a dominant performance, defeating Real Madrid 4-0.
- PSG will face Chelsea in the final.
Key Moments
- 88 min: Gonçalo Ramos scores, PSG 4 - Real Madrid 0.
- 79 min: PSG substitutes Lee Kang-in for Nuno Mendes.
- 71 min: Real Madrid substitutes Dani Carvajal for Gonzalo Garcia.
- 67 min: PSG substitutes Warren Zaire-Emery and Senny Mayulu for Fabian Ruiz and Desire Doue.
- 65 min: Real Madrid substitutes Luka Modric, Brahim Diaz, and Eder Militao for Jude Bellingham, Raul Asencio, and Vinicius Jr.
- 59 min: PSG substitutes Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele.
- 48 min: A goal by PSG was disallowed due to offside.
- 24 min: Fabian Ruiz scores, PSG 3 - Real Madrid 0.
- 9 min: Ousmane Dembele scores, PSG 2 - Real Madrid 0.
- 6 min: Fabian Ruiz scores, PSG 1 - Real Madrid 0.
Starting Lineups
- Real Madrid: Mbappe started. Trent Alexander-Arnold was not in the squad due to injury.
- Paris Saint-Germain: Ousmane Dembele replaced Bradley Barcola, and Lucas Beraldo covered for the suspended Willian Pacho.
Pre-Match Comments
PSG head coach Luis Enrique addressed the challenging weather conditions, stating, "We’re getting used to it. Playing in these conditions, because that’s been the norm during the [Club] World Cup. It’ll be business as usual. It’s not good for the spectacle because it’s difficult to play in that position. It’s the same for both teams."
He also acknowledged the significance of playing against Real Madrid: "Playing against Real Madrid will be a special match, no doubt about it. At the same time, we like playing these kinds of games because it means you’ve done your job well and you’re in a position to play in a semi-final."
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