Kylian Mbappe faced his former team in what turned out to be a lopsided affair, as Paris Saint-Germain triumphed over Real Madrid with a 4-0 victory on Wednesday, securing a spot in the Club World Cup final. Fabian Ruiz quickly established a dominant lead with three goals within the first 24 minutes, propelling PSG to face Chelsea in the championship.
Ruiz opened the scoring just six minutes in, followed by a goal from Ousmane Dembélé, with Ruiz adding a third after a defensive lapse by Madrid’s Raul Asensio and Antonio Rudiger. Gonzalo Ramos capped off the scoring in the 87th minute.
As PSG seeks to take home their first European title, they will face Chelsea in the final on Sunday. Real Madrid, who previously overpowered PSG 5-0 in the Champions League final, appeared lackluster after a training trip to Florida, as PSG dominated possession, holding 76.5% of the ball during the first half.
The match was attended by a crowd of 77,542 at MetLife Stadium, where temperatures felt as hot as 101°F (38°C) with high humidity. Luka Modric played his 64th match against Madrid, while Edder Militao made his return after recovering from an ACL injury.
PSG capitalized on a mistake from Asensio, with Dembélé dribbling past Thibaut Courtois for the second goal. Hakimi’s set-up allowed Ruiz to maintain his composure despite challenges, leading to a well-deserved third goal.
Real Madrid’s defense was further weakened by a red card issued to Dean Huysen and a right leg injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Fan Take: This victory is significant not only for PSG’s confidence as they chase their first major European trophy but also highlights the ongoing rivalry between these two powerhouse clubs. For soccer fans, it sets the stage for thrilling matchups and potential shifts in European dominance.
