Photo of celebrating PSG stars courtesy of FIFA
Paris Saint-Germain have set up a mouth-watering FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final with Chelsea FC after putting on a MetLife masterclass against Real Madrid C. F.
The highly-anticipated decider between the two European giants will take place in this same impressive arena on Sunday, 13 July.
In this blockbuster semi-final, PSG were 3-0 up by the half-hour mark, with Fabian Ruiz scoring either side of a breakaway goal from the returning Ousmane Dembele. Their victory was capped with a Goncalo Ramos effort three minutes from time.
Despite Kylian Mbappe making his first start in the global showpiece, Madrid were unable to mount a comeback. It was not the return that the French forward had expected against his former club.
PSG are now just one win away from a quadruple of trophies, having won the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France and UEFA Champions League this season.
Madrid coach Xabi Alonso had been forced to shuffle his defence, with right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the squad after reportedly suffering muscle discomfort in training, and Raul Asencio in for suspended Dean Huijsen.
Those changes seemed to unsettle Los Merengues, and it was mistakes by Asencio and fellow centre-back Antonio Rudiger that led to PSG taking a 2-0 lead within just nine minutes.
The European champions broke the deadlock in six minutes when Ruiz pounced on a loose ball in the area after an error from Asencio and slotted the ball in the net. That lead was quickly doubled when Rudiger lost control of the ball near the halfway line and Dembele — who was also making his first start of the global showpiece — raced in on goal and placed the ball past the helpless Thibaut Courtois.
Already reeling, Madrid were left utterly shell-shocked when PSG launched another lightning-quick break in the 24th minute and Ruiz scored his second goal of the game with some ease.
The Spanish giants tried to muster a comeback after the break but PSG further extended their lead in the 87th minute through substitute Ramos, who turned and finished smartly after some intricate approach play.
With Madrid's exit, their veteran midfielder Luka Modric has now played his final game for the club. The Croatian icon was given a huge ovation at the MetLife Stadium when he came on as a second-half substitute. (FIFA.COM)
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