Paris Saint-Germain delivered a stunning performance on Wednesday night, crushing Real Madrid with a commanding 4-0 victory in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final. This emphatic win means the French champions have officially secured a place in the grand finale on Sunday, where they will battle Chelsea at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Led by Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz and French winger Ousmane Dembele, PSG showcased their attacking brilliance and defensive solidity in a match that left Real Madrid reeling. Ruiz, who was in scintillating form, scored twice, while Dembele added a goal and an assist to cap off an extraordinary individual display.
The French giants started the match at a blistering pace, putting Madrid under intense pressure from the first whistle. In the 6th minute, Dembele’s high pressing paid off as he dispossessed Raul Asencio deep in Madrid’s half before unselfishly squaring the ball to Ruiz for a simple finish into an open net.
Barely three minutes later, Dembele turned scorer, taking advantage of a defensive error by Antonio Rudiger. After intercepting a poor touch, he coolly slotted the ball beyond goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to double PSG’s lead, leaving the Madrid defense shell-shocked and their supporters stunned.
Luis Enrique’s side continued to dominate proceedings with fluid passing combinations and relentless runs that sliced through Madrid’s defense repeatedly. In the 27th minute, a swift counterattack saw Achraf Hakimi break forward before delivering a perfectly timed pass to Ruiz, who calmly converted his second goal of the night to make it 3-0, effectively sealing the game before halftime.
PSG could have gone into the break with an even bigger lead, as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia missed a golden opportunity to score a fourth when he fired wide after being put through on goal. Despite the miss, PSG’s overall superiority was clear, as they entered the interval with total control of the match.
In the second half, PSG adopted a more measured approach, maintaining possession with composure and expertly managing the tempo. Real Madrid struggled to create meaningful chances, as PSG’s defensive line remained firm and the midfield controlled the flow of play.
The final nail in Madrid’s coffin arrived in the 82nd minute. Substitute Goncalo Ramos, who came on to add fresh legs to the attack, finished off a brilliantly constructed move orchestrated by Bradley Barcola. Ramos rounded Courtois and calmly slotted the ball into the net to make it 4-0, sparking wild celebrations among the PSG faithful in the stands.
This dominant victory underlines PSG’s status as strong contenders to be crowned world champions. They will now turn their focus to the final clash with Chelsea, who overcame Fluminense 2-0 in the other semi-final earlier this week. The eagerly anticipated final promises to be an electrifying encounter between two of Europe’s elite clubs, as both teams vie for the prestigious, revamped FIFA Club World Cup title.