The anticipation for a clash between the last two UEFA Champions League winners was palpable, filling the New Jersey air with the usual pre-match fanfare. Yet, the reality that unfolded on the pitch at MetLife Stadium was a stark, one-sided affair. Paris Saint-Germain delivered a comprehensive 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-finals, a result far more lopsided than mere pre-game prestige would suggest.
PSG established dominance almost immediately. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the sixth minute, followed swiftly by Ousmane Dembele in the ninth. Ruiz completed his brace just fifteen minutes later, leaving Madrid reeling at 3-0 within the first quarter of the match. While the speed of the goals was initially shocking, by halftime, the overwhelming nature of the result felt less like an upset and more like an inevitability. As PSG`s coach had hinted, the two teams appeared to be in “two very different situations,” a disparity brutally exposed over 90 minutes.
PSG, exemplified by their recent dominant victories, operates with a clear identity and remarkable consistency. Real Madrid, conversely, continues to grapple with a persistent, fundamental imbalance within its squad. This imbalance isn`t a new phenomenon; it has plagued Los Blancos throughout the past season, culminating in their first trophyless campaign in four years. The crushing defeat to PSG served not as the cause of their problems, but as an undeniable spotlight on issues that can no longer be ignored.
Despite the arrival of new figures, including manager Xabi Alonso and promising youngster Gonzalo Garcia, the core structural flaws remain. While PSG successfully transitioned away from a strictly star-dependent model, Madrid appears stuck in a state of excess without cohesion. Alonso`s first attempt to deploy a front three featuring Garcia alongside established stars Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe yielded minimal attacking threat. Their combined output of five shots (four from Mbappe, none from Garcia) contributed to a meager 0.47 expected goals (xG), part of Madrid`s overall tally of 11 shots and 0.75 xG with just 32% possession. This performance wasn`t necessarily an indictment of individual talent but highlighted the difficulty in finding balance and synergy.
The imbalance isn`t confined to the attacking third. Issues permeated throughout the pitch. The absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold due to injury forced the versatile Federico Valverde into an unfamiliar right-back role, a position where his natural strengths are muted, further complicating the battle on the flanks – an area where PSG excels. Even more critically, the central defense, featuring Antonio Rudiger and Raul Asensio, endured an abysmal outing, appearing frazzled and directly contributing to PSG`s scoring spree. Their performance arguably bore more responsibility for the result than the struggles of the much-discussed attacking trio.
Adding a layer of poignancy, the match marked Luka Modric`s final appearance for the club, playing the last 25 minutes with the score already 3-0 against his side. While moving on from a generational talent approaching 40 is understandable, his inability to influence a game already decided underscored the team`s systemic woes. This was more than just the end of an era for Modric, the singular player to break the Messi-Ronaldo Ballon d`Or duopoly; it felt like the definitive closing of an era for Real Madrid itself, signaling the urgent need for a completely new project.
With a new manager at the helm, the timing is opportune for a comprehensive refresh. However, the question looms: how much fundamental work can be achieved before the La Liga season commences on August 19th? Alonso correctly noted the need for players to rest after a demanding 11 months. While a complete “rebuild” might feel contrary to Real Madrid`s historical identity as a club that buys finished products, 13 months without major silverware makes the necessity undeniable. Like it or not, a significant restructuring appears to be the only path forward for Los Blancos.
