In a stunning display of dominance, Paris St-Germain (PSG) overwhelmed European giants Real Madrid with a resounding 4-0 victory, propelling them to the final of the Club World Cup. This remarkable triumph follows their recent 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final, marking PSG as a formidable force in world football.
Despite some critics downplaying the significance of the Club World Cup as a mere exhibition, the intensity with which players have approached the tournament tells a different story. From thrilling exchanges to fierce competitiveness, the stakes have been high. PSG’s trajectory this season has been nothing short of sensational, with previous noteworthy wins against Atletico and Bayern Munich, the latter achieved even while finishing the match with only nine players.
On Wednesday night, PSG’s offensive prowess was on full display as they stormed to a 3-0 lead within the first 24 minutes, with goals from Fabian Ruiz and Ousmane Dembele, capped off by Goncalo Ramos’s late strike. The team looks lethal, with opponents struggling to cope with their relentless pace, fluid passing, and aggressive pressing. Former Tottenham star Andros Townsend encapsulated the sentiment, stating, “Luis Enrique has created a monster.”
Former Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale echoed this confidence, remarking, “They look like a team who are going to be around for a long time. They are very young, relentless, and want to embarrass teams.” The shift in PSG’s dynamics has been palpable since Kylian Mbappe’s exit last summer, which allowed for the rising stars like Dembele, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to take centre stage.
This transformation has invigorated PSG’s gameplay. Dominating the midfield with players like Joao Neves and Vitinha, the team controls the tempo of matches—a fact that did not go unnoticed by pundits. “When the three in the middle dictate the play like that, no-one can stop them,” noted ex-Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel. Meanwhile, Callum Wilson exclaimed, “Some of that football from PSG was like watching Fifa. Incredible.”
As PSG prepares for Sunday’s final against Chelsea, the team’s record is staggering: five knockout matches without conceding a single goal, indicative of a side that has found its rhythm and momentum. Already crowned champions of Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the Champions League this season, a victory in the Club World Cup would add another star to their treble triumph.
Yet, fatigue may be a lurking concern. The impending match against Chelsea will be their 65th since the start of the 2024-25 campaign, and the prospect of facing Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup looms on the horizon. Still, the optimism around PSG is undeniable, as they continue to impress under Luis Enrique’s stewardship, with the coach asserting that his players are ready to claim more silverware.
Among the standout performers has been Ousmane Dembele, who has stepped out of Mbappe’s shadow to become a formidable player in his own right. With a career-best tally of 35 goals this season, Dembele is emerging as a leading candidate for the prestigious Ballon d’Or. “It has been a masterclass,” said Townsend regarding Dembele’s performance, underscoring his aggressive style of play that forces opponents into mistakes.
As PSG heads into the final on Sunday, questions linger over Chelsea’s preparedness to face such an astonishingly cohesive unit. The final, set to showcase the new PSG, promises to be a spectacle of epic proportions, sparking intrigue among football fans worldwide.