Real Madrid and PSG Advance to FIFA Club World Cup Semifinals
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) both secured their places in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ with dramatic victories over Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, respectively, on July 5, 2025.
Real Madrid Survives Late Scare Against Dortmund
At MetLife Stadium, Real Madrid edged Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a thrilling quarter-final match. The Spanish giants took the lead early with a goal from Gonzalo Garcia in the 10th minute, who volleyed home a cross from Arda Guler. Fran Garcia doubled the advantage just ten minutes later with a well-placed finish from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cutback.
Despite their early dominance, Madrid faced a late scare as Dortmund fought back in stoppage time. Maximilian Beier pulled one back in the 90+3 minute, capitalizing on a defensive error. Just moments later, Kylian Mbappe sealed the victory for Madrid with a stunning overhead kick in the 90+4 minute, but Dortmund responded once more with a penalty from Serhou Guirassy in the 90+8 minute, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
“We had everything under control but gave away chances late in the game,” said Madrid coach Xabi Alonso. “The last few minutes were chaotic, but winning is what matters.”
PSG Shines Despite Adversity
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, PSG secured a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich, showcasing resilience despite being reduced to nine men. Desire Doue opened the scoring for PSG, marking his first goal in the tournament. Ousmane Dembele sealed the win with a goal in added time, brilliantly set up by Achraf Hakimi.
PSG’s captain Marquinhos emphasized the importance of the victory, stating, “We had a score to settle with Bayern after the 2020 Champions League final and earlier this season. We want to win this competition.”
However, the match was not without its challenges. PSG lost defenders Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez to red cards, testing their depth and resolve. Coach Luis Enrique acknowledged the difficulties but praised his team’s performance, saying, “We deserved the win, but it was really hard.”
With their victories, Real Madrid and PSG are set to face each other in an eagerly anticipated semifinal clash, promising to be a highlight of the tournament. Both teams are looking to advance to the final and assert their dominance on the world stage.
