Paris Saint-Germain dismantled Real Madrid 4-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semifinal on Wednesday, July 9, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The match, anticipated as a clash of European titans, turned into a one-sided affair as PSG showcased their attacking prowess and defensive solidity, leaving the record UEFA Champions League winners reeling and booking their place in the final against Chelsea.
From the opening whistle, PSG asserted their authority. Just six minutes in, Fabián Ruiz struck the first blow, capitalizing on a precise cross from Achraf Hakimi to fire past Thibaut Courtois. The early goal set the tone, and Real Madrid’s defense, missing suspended center-back Dean Huijsen, struggled to cope with PSG’s relentless attacking quartet. Barely three minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé doubled the lead, latching onto a through ball and slotting it past Courtois, who could only watch as the ball nestled into the net. The 80,000-plus crowd, heavily favoring Real Madrid, was stunned into silence as PSG’s fluid combinations overwhelmed their opponents.
Ruiz wasn’t done. In the 24th minute, he scored his second, finishing off a mesmerizing sequence of passes involving Hakimi, Désiré Doué, and Dembélé. The move, described as a masterclass in attacking football, saw PSG slice through Real Madrid’s left flank, exposing Fran García and Raúl Asencio. The 3-0 halftime scoreline flattered Real Madrid, as Courtois’ heroics prevented further damage, including a sprawling save to deny Dembélé a second goal. Posts on X captured the disbelief, with fans noting the absence of Luka Modrić and Lucas Vázquez from the starting lineup as a tactical misstep by manager Xabi Alonso.
The second half saw Real Madrid attempt a response, with Kylian Mbappé, facing his former club, showing flashes of brilliance but lacking support. PSG, under Luis Enrique’s meticulous guidance, maintained their grip. Substitutions, including Gonçalo Ramos, added fresh legs, and it was Ramos who sealed the rout in the 87th minute, tapping in after a swift counterattack. The goal underscored PSG’s depth and their ability to punish even the slightest defensive lapse. Real Madrid’s attempts to rally were futile, with Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior unable to break through a disciplined PSG backline marshaled by Marquinhos and Gianluigi Donnarumma, who recorded four saves.
Real Madrid’s frustrations boiled over, with fouls from Brahim Díaz and Gonzalo García drawing scrutiny, and a brief delay due to an injury to Aurélien Tchouaméni disrupted their rhythm. Despite these hiccups, PSG’s performance was near-flawless, their 4-0 victory marking one of the most lopsided results in the storied rivalry’s history. Historically, Real Madrid held a 5-4 edge in wins over PSG across 12 meetings, but this encounter flipped the narrative, with PSG proving their Champions League triumph earlier in 2025 was no fluke.
The backdrop of the match added intrigue. Tensions between PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and Real Madrid’s Florentino Pérez, rooted in disputes over the Super League and Mbappé’s transfer, loomed large. Mbappé, who left PSG for Real Madrid in 2024, faced a hostile reception from his former fans, and his lackluster performance only fueled the narrative of PSG’s supremacy. A post on X quipped, “How embarrassing for Mbappé,” highlighting the irony of PSG’s dominance in his first season away.
PSG’s path to the final has been formidable. After a group-stage loss to Botafogo, they reeled off three consecutive clean-sheet victories, including a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals despite finishing with nine men. Their attacking fluidity, led by Ruiz, Dembélé, Doué, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, has made them favorites to lift the trophy. Real Madrid, meanwhile, must regroup after a chaotic 3-2 quarterfinal win over Borussia Dortmund, where Mbappé’s bicycle kick had briefly reignited hopes of a sixth Club World Cup title.
As PSG prepares to face Chelsea in the final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, the football world is abuzz. Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fluminense sets up another all-European showdown, but PSG’s performance against Real Madrid sends a clear message: they are the team to beat.