Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) delivered a masterclass in domination as they crushed Real Madrid 4-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Wednesday night, setting up a final clash with Chelsea on Sunday.
Luis Enrique’s treble-winning side were 3-0 up inside 24 minutes, with Fabián Ruiz bagging a brace and Ousmane Dembélé adding another before Gonçalo Ramos rounded off the rout late on.
It was a night to forget for new Madrid boss Xabi Alonso, whose experimental setup was torn apart by a relentless PSG midfield and front line.
PSG Early Onslaught Stuns Real Madrid
The UEFA Champions League winners came out blazing, catching Real Madrid flat-footed and flustered. Ruiz struck the opener after a sharp team move involving Dembélé and Vitinha.
The second came swiftly, with Dembélé pouncing on a loose pass by Antonio Rüdiger and coolly slotting past Thibaut Courtois. Ruiz’s second, a thunderbolt from outside the box, made it 3-0 in the 24th minute.
It would have been more but PSG missed several golden chances and Courtois made two incredible saves, one denying Kylian Mbappé in a one-on-one situation, another tipping over a João Neves curler.
Ramos Caps Off a Statement Victory
As Real pushed forward out of desperation, PSG kept their shape and waited for the kill, and it came in the 87th minute when substitute Gonçalo Ramos drilled in the fourth goal after a clever lay-off by Vitinha.
Luis Enrique, praising the team effort, said:
“We played a perfect first half, both with and without the ball. The players were brilliant. We want more, and Sunday’s final is the big one.”
Dembélé: Ballon d’Or in Sight?
This tournament has become Ousmane Dembélé’s international coming-out party, and his semifinal performance only strengthened his case for the Ballon d’Or.
The 28-year-old winger scored one, assisted one, and terrorised Madrid’s backline with his pace, movement, and pressing. He was substituted after 59 minutes to conserve energy for the final.
Should PSG win Sunday’s final, he is expected to be crowned the world’s best player in Paris later this year.
Luis Enrique once managed arguably the greatest midfield trio of all time at Barcelona; Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets. But his current unit of Vitinha, João Neves, and Ruiz is starting to draw serious comparisons.
FIFA’s in-game stats showed PSG recovered possession in 23 seconds on average, nearly twice as fast as Real Madrid (45 seconds).
Xabi Alonso’s Experiment Blows Up
Real Madrid’s first outing under Xabi Alonso was a tactical disaster. Pairing Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé up top without a natural central forward caused positional confusion, and neither tracked back defensively.
Modric’s Painful Farewell
While the defeat was humiliating, it also marked the end of an era. Luka Modrić, aged 39, made what is expected to be his final appearance for Real Madrid, coming on in the second half for his 597th match in white.
His Madrid legacy includes six Champions League titles, four La Liga crowns, and a Balon d’Or. He moves to Serie A where he will continue his career with AC Milan.
Sunday Final: Chelsea vs PSG
Chelsea booked their ticket with a 2-0 against Fluminense on Tuesday thanks to João Pedro’s brace. Now, PSG, winners of Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the Champions League stand one win away from a historic quadruple.
