CWC: Saints humbled the overconfident King with a match full of agony

PSG showcased their power and current form, dismantling Real Madrid in a match where Luis Enrique's side was practically the only team on the pitch. With this dominant win, the French giants advance to the Club World Cup final, where they’ll face Chelsea.

Paris Saint-Germain delivered a dominant first-half performance in the Club World Cup semifinal, taking a commanding 3–0 lead over Real Madrid.

In the 4th minute, Fabian Ruiz tested the keeper with a powerful low shot toward the left post, but the Real Madrid goalkeeper made a fantastic save. Moments later, another big chance came PSG’s way — Achraf Hakimi sent in a precise cross, finding Ousmane Dembélé one-on-one with the keeper, but once again, Courtois came to the rescue with a brilliant save.

PSG didn't have to wait long for the breakthrough. In the 6th minute, Fabian Ruiz capitalized on a mistake by Raúl Asensio, pouncing on the loose ball inside the box and firing a shot into the bottom left corner to make it 1–0.

Just three minutes later, in the 9th minute, a disastrous error by Antonio Rudiger gifted possession to Dembele, who made no mistake and slotted the ball past the keeper to double PSG’s lead.

In the 20th minute, Real Madrid gave too much space to Achraf Hakimi, who unleashed a shot that narrowly missed the target.

PSG struck again in the 24th minute with a stunning team goal. Hakimi found Fabian Ruiz unmarked in the box with a clever assist, and the Spaniard calmly finished into the bottom right corner for his second goal of the match — PSG were now 3–0 up.

The final big moment of the half came in the 40th minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia missed a golden opportunity, sending the ball just wide of the right post.

The second half saw far fewer highlights as PSG managed the game with control, while Real Madrid struggled to find a breakthrough.

In the 53rd minute, Kylian Mbappe tried his luck with a powerful first-time shot from the edge of the box, but it was a wild effort that flew well over the bar — an example of what not to do in front of goal.

Just four minutes later, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia responded with a fierce strike for PSG, but his shot drifted wide of the right post.

In the 72nd minute, Goncalo Ramos missed a golden opportunity to extend PSG’s lead. He connected with a volley inside the box but sent it just wide of the right post.

Real’s final real threat came in the 85th minute when Eder Militao directed a strong header toward goal from about 11 meters out, but the ball narrowly missed the target, grazing past the right post.

In the 88th minute, Paris Saint-Germain put the final nail in the coffin. After a scramble in the box, the ball fell to Goncalo Ramos, who had no trouble slotting it past Courtois from close range

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025

1/2 finals

Tuesday

Fluminense - Chelsea 0-2 (0-1)

/Joao Pedro 18, 56/

Wednesday

PSG - Real Madrid 4-0 (3-0)

/Ruiz 6, 24, Dembele 9, Ramos 88/