PSG and Real Madrid meet this week at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford for a place in the Club World Cup final. Arguably the most compelling semi-final we could've had, the fixture pits the reigning European champions against the most decorated club in the competition’s history.
PSG arrive in New Jersey after a 2-0 quarter-final victory over Bayern Munich, a result that highlighted not only the quality of the team but also its resilience. Goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele secured the win, but it did not come without incident. The French side finished with nine men after late red cards for Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez, both of whom will be suspended for the semi-final. Despite this, Luis Enrique’s men showed defensive discipline and even managed to extend their lead at the death, when Dembele provided an excellent finish in the box after Bayern had been caught committing bodies forward.
PSG are the form team in Europe right now and are looking increasingly difficult to stop. The midfield trio of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz is arguably the best in the world on current form, while Dembele, Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola make up a quartet of attackers that would walk into most sides in the world. The Parisians will no doubt feel the absence of Pacho on Wednesday night, and Lucas Beraldo is the likely man to deputise at the heart of the defence, but PSG will be extremely confident of coming out on top here, despite Real Madrid's pedigree.
Real Madrid come into the semi-final after a 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the last eight. Xabi Alonso’s side established a two-goal lead through Gonzalo Garcia and Fran Garcia, before Kylian Mbappe added a third late on. A red card for Dean Huijsen and two late Dortmund goals made for a nervy finish, but Madrid held on to secure their place in the final four.
Madrid’s run in the tournament has been marked by a change in style and a growing sense of pragmatism under Alonso. The return of Mbappe from illness has added a direct threat to an attack that also features Vinícius Junior and Jude Bellingham. The midfield, anchored by Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, has provided a solid platform, with Tchouameni in particular drawing praise from the manager for his importance to the team's new style. The defence could see further rotation due to Huijsen’s suspension, with Eder Militao in line to make his return from injury. Thibaut Courtois has been at the top of his game too, and his save from Marcel Sabitzer at the death against Dortmund once again showed his value to the team, if anybody needed reminding. Madrid remain without long-term absentees Ferland Mendy and David Alaba, while Eduardo Camavinga is also sidelined.
Madrid haven't had an easy run to the semi-finals but this will be the first major test for this side, and it's probably the biggest test they could possibly face. The team's new direction under Alonso will face its first serious round of scrutiny, and while its early days, the former midfielder will want to keep the Madrid press off his back for as long as possible.
PSG 2-1 Real Madrid
