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PSG and Real Madrid Face Off for a Spot in the Club World Cup Final

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  • Jul 8
  • 3 min read

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will feature an epic semi-final clash today between two European football powerhouses, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid C.F. This eagerly awaited match will take place at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, with the game starting at 3:00 PM local time (9:00 PM in both Paris and Madrid).


This game is more than a semi-final; it's a gathering of football giants. PSG and Real Madrid, both reigning European champions and record holders in their leagues, have battled through a tough journey to arrive at this pivotal point. PSG earned their place by defeating FC Bayern München in an intense quarter-final, during which Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernández were sent off with red cards. Meanwhile, Real Madrid secured their spot with an exciting 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund, where Kylian Mbappé scored his first goal of the tournament.


Key Narratives: Absences, Returns, and Attacking Dilemmas


The lead-up to this semi-final is filled with captivating subplots. PSG must manage without key defenders William Pacho and Lucas Hernández, both suspended after receiving red cards against Bayern. Nonetheless, manager Luis Enrique will be encouraged by the performance of Ousmane Dembélé, who recently netted his first Club World Cup goal – his 34th in a remarkable season. Dembélé, a standout player for PSG, may now be ready to lead their attack from the outset.


On the Real Madrid side, coach Xabi Alonso faces a crucial choice regarding his central forward. Although Kylian Mbappé thrilled the New York/New Jersey crowd by scoring his first tournament goal in the dramatic victory over Borussia Dortmund, his playing time has been limited. This is mainly due to the outstanding form of academy graduate Gonzalo Garcia. The 21-year-old has already scored four times in the competition and is the only Real Madrid player to have directly contributed to a goal in all of his team's matches. However, the Galacticos will be without summer signing Dean Huijsen, whose impressive start at the club was suddenly interrupted by a late red card in the quarter-final.


Projected Lineups


Paris Saint-Germain: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos (C), Beraldo, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz; Dembélé, Doué, Kvaratskhelia.


Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Raúl Asencio, Fran García; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Arda Güler; Bellingham, Gonzalo García, Vinícius Júnior.


Voices from the Camps


The players are fully aware of the significance of this match. Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold commented on PSG's capabilities: "I played against PSG this season, and they were exceptional. Naturally, it’s going to be a challenging game. Both of us are in the final four, and we both deserve to be here. In knockout football, any team can defeat any other. We’ll put in the effort to recover and get ready for a tough match. Let’s see who prevails and proves to be the best team.”


PSG defender Achraf Hakimi, who previously played for Real Madrid, emphasized his team's resilience: "This year we’ve faced tough times, but I think the team has demonstrated our character by standing together during difficult moments. We managed to score the second goal and show that we are determined to remain in this competition, proving that we’re one of the title contenders.”



Key Stats and Historical Context


Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain share a rich history, having clashed 12 times in competitive matches. Los Blancos have a slight advantage with 5 victories compared to PSG's 4, alongside 3 draws. Their last encounter was in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 in 2022, where Real Madrid triumphed 3-2 on aggregate before securing their 14th European title.


This semi-final also features outstanding individual performances. Gonzalo Garcia is notable for being the first Real Madrid player to score four goals in a FIFA club competition since Cristiano Ronaldo did so in the 2016 Intercontinental Cup. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé, who netted an impressive 256 goals in 308 games during his time in Paris, is now set to face his former team in a crucial showdown.


The Venue: MetLife Stadium

Today's exciting semi-final takes place at MetLife Stadium, a cutting-edge multipurpose venue located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This stadium serves as the home for the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets and boasts a rich history of hosting significant sporting and entertainment events, such as the 2016 Copa América Centenario final. Its global importance is poised to increase as it is set to host the FIFA World Cup 26™ Final, in addition to two other knockout matches and five group-stage games.





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