PSG thrash Real Madrid to book Club World Cup final clash with Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain delivered a breathtaking performance to demolish Real Madrid and book their place in the FIFA Club World Cup final, where they will take on Chelsea in what promises to be a thrilling showdown on Sunday.

The semi-final encounter, held at the iconic MetLife Stadium, was all but settled in the opening 24 minutes as PSG stormed past the Spanish giants with ruthless efficiency and sharp attacking play.

The French champions opened the scoring in the 6th minute through Fabian Ruiz, who calmly slotted the ball into an empty net after a costly defensive blunder by Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio. The goal came despite a collision between Ousmane Dembélé and Real’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, with the referee opting to play the advantage.

French winger Dembele raced away three minutes later to finish calmly after a mis-kick from Antonio Rudiger.

Ruiz then slotted home the third after a fantastic give-and-go between Achraf Hakimi and Dembele.

Real, who were missing the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, offered little in response and Goncalo Ramos added a late fourth for PSG to cap a dominant display.

PSG’s all-time top scorer Kylian Mbappe was on the pitch to witness another masterclass… by his former side.

Since the France striker left for Madrid a year ago on a free transfer, PSG have become an infinitely better team and are looking to make the Club World Cup their fourth trophy of 2025 (five if you count France’s version of the Community Shield).

And despite a combined 48 goals and assists from Mbappe in 2024-25 for Real, they have ended the campaign without a trophy.

No team can handle the pace, passing and pressing of Luis Enrique’s PSG side, who thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 to win the Champions League and have beaten Atletico Madrid 4-0, Bayern Munich 2-0 (with nine men) and now Real Madrid 4-0 in the United States.

Ruiz scored twice but his midfield partners were fantastic too. Real could not handle PSG’s front three, nor Hakimi at right-back.

There was an emotional goodbye for 39-year-old Croat Luka Modric, who made his 597th and final appearance for Real and will join AC Milan now.

Dating back to the Coupe de France final, PSG have won their last five knockout round matches in all competitions by a combined score of 18-0.

Real Madrid, who had never lost a Club World Cup match before, conceded three goals in the opening 25 minutes of a match for the first time since 9 November 2003 against Sevilla in La Liga.