Paris Saint-Germain delivered a commanding performance in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal, securing a comprehensive 4-0 victory against Real Madrid. The match saw PSG convincingly defeat the team featuring their former talisman, Kylian Mbappe, setting up a final clash with Chelsea. An early goal set the tone for a dominant display from the Parisian side.
Despite reports of both teams experiencing traffic delays en route to MetLife Stadium, it was PSG who arrived ready to play. They opened the scoring through Fabian Ruiz just six minutes in, immediately putting Real Madrid under pressure. The Parisians capitalized effectively on Real Madrid`s errors throughout the contest. Ruiz would go on to complete a brace, and Ousmane Dembele added another, contributing to a remarkable 3-0 lead by the 24th minute. Real Madrid, managed by Xabi Alonso, appeared notably disjointed and struggled to find their rhythm, a state perhaps exacerbated by reported late travel arrivals the previous night.
This dominant showing is the latest testament to PSG`s exceptional form, following their historic first Champions League title win. Manager Luis Enrique seems to have successfully reshaped the squad dynamics after the departure of high-profile stars like Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Neymar. The team now operates with a collective strength that transcends individual star power – a significant shift from their previous identity, which sometimes proved a hindrance on the biggest stages. PSG`s path this season has been remarkably consistent, and even playing their 64th competitive match didn`t show signs of fatigue.
For Xabi Alonso, this match represents a significant early setback in his tenure at Real Madrid. While it`s preferable for such learning experiences to occur before critical Champions League knockout ties, the performance highlighted notable weaknesses. The tactical shift to a back four formation, apparently tested in this tournament, seemed particularly detrimental, leaving the team exposed and chasing the game. Real Madrid had appeared more comfortable and effective in a back three setup during earlier stages of the tournament, which better utilized players in wider roles. However, adapting to a consistent back three might necessitate squad adjustments, potentially impacting key attacking players. With veteran players like Luka Modric reportedly nearing departure, changes at Real Madrid seem inevitable, and this match underscored the considerable distance they currently need to cover to compete with a side in PSG`s current formidable state.
As PSG now look ahead to the final against Chelsea, Real Madrid must regroup and analyze the lessons from this humbling defeat in their quest to bridge the revealed gap.
