Paris Saint-Germain delivered a masterclass performance on Wednesday night, dismantling Real Madrid 4-0 to storm into the FIFA Club World Cup final. Led by a sensational brace from Fabian Ruiz and a dominant display from Ousmane Dembele, the French champions sent a clear message to the world of football at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Ruiz opened and closed his scoring account in a first-half rampage that saw PSG net three times in just 24 minutes, leaving the 15-time European champions stunned. Dembele, a constant menace on the wing, grabbed a goal and an assist, while substitute Goncalo Ramos sealed the rout with a late strike in the 87th minute.
PSG’s defensive line was nearly impenetrable, with Gianluigi Donnarumma making just two saves, one early stop against former PSG star Kylian Mbappe, en route to yet another clean sheet. The Parisians have now recorded five shutouts in six tournament games, underscoring their dominance on both ends of the pitch.
This was Mbappe’s first clash against PSG since his blockbuster move to Madrid last year. The French forward, who scored a record 256 goals during his seven-year stint in Paris, started the match but failed to make an impact, much like the rest of his sluggish Madrid teammates. The Spanish giants appeared weary after their trip to Florida for mid-tournament training, and it showed PSG controlled 76.5% of possession in the first half alone.
The match was played in front of a raucous crowd of 77,542 fans under sweltering conditions, with on-field temperatures soaring to a humid 38°C (101°F). But the heat didn’t slow down PSG, who set the tone early with two shots on goal within five minutes. Dembele soon capitalized on a defensive blunder from Raul Asencio, sidestepping goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to tee up Ruiz for the opener.
Moments later, another Madrid error this time from Antonio Rudiger, allowed Dembele to double the lead in the ninth minute. By the 24th minute, it was 3-0 after Achraf Hakimi broke down the flank and delivered a pinpoint cross for Ruiz to bag his second.
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Real Madrid’s struggles resembled those of Inter Milan, who were thrashed 5-0 by PSG in the Champions League final earlier this year. Missing key player Trent Alexander-Arnold due to a training injury, Madrid simply had no answers to PSG’s relentless pace and precision.
With this emphatic victory, PSG now turn their attention to Sunday’s final against Chelsea, the 2021 title holders. A win would not only secure PSG’s first FIFA Club World Cup trophy but also etch their name in history as the first French club to claim the coveted title.
The win is also a windfall for the Ligue 1 giants, earning them between $88.4 million and $113.8 million depending on the final participation bonus. But more than the money, it’s legacy that’s on the line, and PSG looks hungrier than ever.
