CWC: PSG burn down Atletico on scorching Californian sun

Paris Saint-Germain has become the gold standard in world football. For weeks now, there's been no escape, no solution - no team has managed to crack the code. Perhaps someone eventually will. They usually do. But it'll take time, or the machine will have to collapse under its own weight. Right now, that feels far off. At the FIFA Club World Cup, Luis Enrique's side is just that - a machine! Atletico Madrid learned it the hard way, as they lost 4-0 on Sunday in Pasadena.

At the Rose Bowl, they played with the same hunger they showed at the Allianz Arena on the final day of May, in that memorable trashing of Inter Milan in the Champions League final. They weren't quite as ruthless as they were against Inter, but they were close. Los Colchoneros were flirting with an even heavier defeat.

Diego Simeone's defense was under siege every time Khvicha Kvaratskhelia or Desire Doue surged forward. Especially the former. The Georgian was electric - he was in a 'catch me if you can' mode, and no one could.

Midway through the first half, he teed up Fabian Ruiz, who fired a signature strike from outside the box to open the scoring, 1-0. Atletico didn't register a single shot on target until stoppage time, when Antoine Griezmann tried his luck. Alas, it was a prelude to an immediate counter, and after a handful of touches it was 2-0. Kvaratskhelia again with the assist, and Vitinha was the finisher this time. Jan Oblak did everything he could, but the Portuguese midfielder could launch a goal celebration with his headband twirling in the air.

Even after the break, Les Parisiens controlled the ball, and kept searching for a chance to definitely kill this game.

Which they did magnificently in the end, against a ten-man rival, who were without Clement Lenglet, who was sent off after the second yellow card. Senny Mayulu joined the show, just as he had in the Champions League final, making it 3-0 near the end, before Lee Kang-in calmly converted a penalty after a Robin Le Normand handball.

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025

Matchday 1

Sunday

Al Ahly Cairo - Inter Miami 0-0

Bayern Munich - Auckland City 10-0 (6-0)

/Coman 6,21, Boey 18, Olise 20, 45+3, Muller 45,89, Musiala 67, 73 pen, 84/

PSG - Atletico Madrid 4-0 (2-0)

/Ruiz 19, Vitinha 45+1, Mayulu 87, Lee 90+7 pen/

Monday

00:55: (2.65) Palmeiras (3.30) Porto (2.70)

05:00: (1.95) Botafogo (3.45) Seattle (4.00)

***odds are subject to change***