PSG Dominates Real Madrid in Club World Cup Semifinal

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The squad from the Spanish capital reigns as soccer’s most decorated franchise historically, arguably the world’s most followed sports entity, possessing both extraordinary fiscal strength and legendary prestige. Names like several prominent players and a host of others form what experts assess as the sport’s most valuable lineup. Yet, on a sweltering Wednesday afternoon within the confines of MetLife Stadium, this formidable entity appeared to crumble like low-quality margarine under the intense onslaught presented by a Paris-based competitor.

What was anticipated as a monumental clash in the second Club World Cup semifinal swiftly devolved into an utter dismantling.

Real Madrid showed a lack of energy and precision. PSG capitalized with an unwavering intensity, overwhelming the supposed monarchs of European soccer by a score of 4-0.

The team from Paris Saint-Germain nearly achieved a two-goal lead within the initial five minutes. Real’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, managed to parry their efforts, though only briefly postponing what was to follow. Fabian Ruiz found the net in the sixth minute of play. Ousmane Dembélé seized upon an error in the ninth. Ruiz added another goal in the 24th, leading many among the 80,000 Real Madrid devotees in attendance to leave their seats in disappointment and head for the exits.

The venue had reached its seating capacity. Spectators were encouraged by the anticipated return of a star player, who commenced his inaugural match of this Club World Cup at the vanguard of an attack laden with talent – facing off against his former team.

However, Los Blancos were outpaced and overpowered by the reigning champions of Europe, the group that had recently usurped their standing.

They found themselves forced back into their own defensive territory, manipulated from one side to the other, and held accountable for a perceived deficiency in concentration and drive — penalized by what many consider the globe’s premier team.

Ruiz caused them significant difficulties, maneuvering strategically both towards and within the penalty area. He nearly executed a bending shot past Courtois within the fourth minute, even before Real Madrid seemed fully engaged.

A mere twenty-five seconds later, Hakimi delivered a cross to Dembélé, and it required an expansive save from Courtois to prevent PSG from scoring.

Nevertheless, that reprieve was short-lived. Shortly after, Désiré Doué advanced down the right flank. His cross was intercepted; however, Raúl Asencio then displayed a lapse in awareness. Dembélé snatched the ball from Asencio, bypassed Courtois, enabling Ruiz to score with relative ease.

The Madrid defense on the left side struggled to counter the seamless four-player combinations involving Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, Doué, and Dembélé. Asencio and Fran Garcia appeared outmatched and ill-prepared. Their struggles suggested an imbalance within the team, characterized by prominent figures accompanied by supporting players of lesser distinction.

This unbalanced setup encountered an exceptionally polished opponent, a highly effective machine. PSG demonstrated possession marked by both control and fluidity. Their pressing strategy remained assertive, well-coordinated, and persistent. The charge was led by Dembélé, who, upon his return from injury, challenged Antonio Rüdiger, the veteran center back who had formerly been pivotal to Real’s dominance.

In this instance, during the ninth minute, Rüdiger bore responsibility. He unintentionally made a clumsy touch with his supporting foot. This mistake paved the way for Dembélé’s successful play.

All three goals in the first half originated from PSG’s right side — or Madrid’s left. The third goal stood out for its aesthetic appeal — as well as its revealing nature. Comprising essentially five passes — Hakimi to Doué, Doué to Hakimi, Hakimi to Dembélé, Dembélé to Hakimi, Hakimi to Ruiz — the Parisian squad moved from defense to offense, then into the penalty area. The opposition offered scant resistance. While resembling a counterattack, it simply exposed Real Madrid’s vulnerability.

However, PSG’s superiority was not limited to one segment of the field. Nuno Mendes, the versatile left back, played with omnipresence. He charged down the wing, baffled Real Madrid by shifting into the half-space, and even pursued Vinicius Jr. when the Real Madrid star looked poised to score during the first half.

Similar to their match against Inter Miami in the Round of 16, PSG’s substantial advantage allowed them to reduce their intensity in the second half. Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were substituted out. Those who remained seemed to be preserving energy for the impending final match against Chelsea.

Yet, echoing their performance against Inter Milan in the Champions League final, they maintained an advantage even with diminished effort. Goncalo Ramos scored a fourth goal off the bench in the game’s latter stages. Real Madrid exhibited defeat.

As the match approached the 90th minute, the outcome had become irrefutable. In spite of a break for hydration, match officials opted not to introduce any additional time. Szymon Marciniak, the lead referee, signaled the end of play. And Real Madrid, the team responsible for a major boost in viewership for this Club World Cup, exited the competition, falling just short of reaching the final.

Here’s how the match went down in real time: