Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 to secure their place in the Club World Cup final against Chelsea on 13 July.
PSG looked unmatched throughout the game, as Luis Enrique’s side made yet another statement with a convincing win. For Real Madrid, the result is a reality check for the work new coach Xabi Alonso will have to do to turn his side’s fortunes around.
Les Parisiens were dominant early in the first half and took advantage of two Real Madrid mistakes. Despite Madrid’s attempts to break away on the counter, they never really threatened the PSG defence, who were in control of the game.
As it happened
The Met Life stadium was filled to the brim to welcome a clash between two European giants and the last two Champions League winners. However, the anticipation many had for a close and balanced game was quickly brushed away early on.
PSG showed their intent, making a threatening start to the game. In the 4th minute, Fabian Ruiz drilled a shot from the right-hand side, forcing a save from Thibaut Courtois.
Shortly after, Hakimi’s low drilled cross found Dembélé in the box, who shot straight at Courtois, who was forced to make another save.
The first few minutes were end-to-end, as Real Madrid broke away on the counter-attack in reply. Kylian Mbappé found himself in the box but wasn’t able to make a strong connection with the ball.
Moments later, PSG took the lead early on. Raul Asencio failed to take care of Désiré Doué’s cross, which was latched onto by Ousmane Dembélé. The Frenchman went past Thibaut Courtois and passed it to Fabián Ruiz, who put the ball into the empty net for PSG.
Real tried to respond after going behind with a breakaway of their own. In the 8th minute, Vinicius Junior went clear on the wing to put in a cross for Gonzalo Garcia, who was unable to get a touch on the ball.
Clinically, PSG took their chance to make Real pay. Dembélé’s constant pressing forced another mistake from the Real defence, this time from Antonio Rudiger. The Frenchman pounced onto Rudiger’s loose touch before bearing down on Donnarumma’s goal, and curling the ball home for his 35th goal of the season, giving his side a two-goal lead.
Real Madrid again tried to respond with Vinicius Junior breaking away on another counter-attack, but Nuno Mendes made ground to stop him before he got his shot away. PSG seemed to have an answer for every Real counter.
Moments later, PSG scored a third in the 25th minute. Hakimi played a one-two with Dembélé, who broke away on the right-hand side, squaring it to Ruiz once again, who took a touch before slotting it into the bottom corner. PSG looked relentless and continued to dominate as the referee blew the whistle to conclude the first half.
In the second half, Real pushed for a way to get back in the game. Early on, Mbappé played a one-two with Valverde before lashing his shot over the bar. The Frenchman was left frustrated against his former club as he struggled to make the most of his chances.
As Real put more pressure on, they also left spaces for PSG to capitalise on. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s curled shot just went wide of Courtois’ net in the 57th minute, as PSG pushed for a fourth goal.
The introduction of Luka Modric in his last-ever game for Los Blancos brought more control to their performance as they looked for a way back in. Real put more pressure on PSG’s defence. Valverde hit a goal-bound long-range shot which was deflected off Lucas Beraldo for a corner, in what was one of Real’s best chances of the game.
Moments later, Modric’s corner found Éder Militao, whose header went just wide of Donnarumma’s net, but despite their chances, Real had no answer for PSG’s relentless free-flowing approach.
As the game drew to a close, Goncalo Ramos sealed his side’s emphatic victory with a clinical finish. He played a one-two with Bradley Barcola, who twisted and turned before finding Ramos again. The Portuguese international struck the ball past Courtois for PSG’s fourth goal in the 87th minute, but paid tribute to Diogo Jota with his gamer celebration.
PSG’s win means they set up a final against Chelsea on Sunday, and they will take some stopping.
Lineups
PSG: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Lopes Beraldo, Mendes, Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz, Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia
RMA: Courtois, Valverde, Asensio, Rudiger, Garcia, Guler, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Garcia, Vinicius Junior, Mbappé
