PSG Crush Real Madrid to Reach Club World Cup Final
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) routed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semifinals of the Club World Cup, marking a dramatic reunion with Kylian Mbappe at the MetLife Stadium in New York. The victory sets up an exciting final showdown against Chelsea.
Fabian Ruiz was the star of the show, netting two goals, while Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring just six minutes into the match. The early blitz stunned the predominantly white-clad crowd of 77,542, leaving Real Madrid supporters in disbelief.
PSG’s relentless attack continued with Ruiz adding a second goal before halftime, while Goncalo Ramos capped off the scoring late in the game. Under the guidance of coach Luis Enrique, PSG is now just one win away from completing a historic campaign, having already claimed the French title and their first UEFA Champions League trophy just two months prior.
The Parisians have been in formidable form throughout the tournament, previously dismantling Atletico Madrid 4-0 and Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final. Their fluidity on the pitch was in stark contrast to a Real Madrid side still adjusting to the vision of new coach Xabi Alonso.
Mbappe, making his first start against his former club, struggled to make an impact, reflecting the overall futility of Real Madrid’s attack. The defeat is a significant setback for the Spanish giants, who were hoping to secure their first title in the newly expanded 32-team tournament.
Real Madrid missed key players, including central defender Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold, while PSG adapted seamlessly despite the absence of Willian Pacho due to suspension. Lucas Beraldo filled in admirably, and the rest of the lineup showed why they are considered one of the best teams in the world.
Real’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, made some early saves, but even he could not stop PSG from taking the lead in the sixth minute. Dembele capitalized on a defensive error, and Ruiz was quick to convert the rebound. Just three minutes later, the match effectively ended when Dembele scored again after a blunder from Antonio Rudiger.
PSG’s third goal came midway through the first half when Ruiz completed a smooth build-up from Achraf Hakimi. The relentless pressure continued, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia almost adding a fourth before halftime.
With no signs of a comeback from Real Madrid, Alonso made the decision to substitute key players Bellingham and Vinicius, signaling a clear resignation to defeat. The final nail in the coffin came in the 87th minute when Ramos scored, sealing a humiliating defeat for the Spanish side.
