Rabat — Achraf Hakimi’s Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have booked their ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup finals following a thrilling game that saw them sweep through Real Madrid and ultimately prevail with a commanding 4-0 victory.
PSG seized control early, racing into a dominant 3-0 lead within 25 minutes in the first half of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup semi‑final in New Jersey.
The Parisian club’s opener arrived in the 6th minute. Ousmane Dembélé capitalized on a Madrid defensive error before Fabian Ruiz netted PSG’s first goal.
Three minutes later, Dembélé doubled the advantage, again exploiting a backsliding by Antonio Rudiger.
Hakimi’s PSG asserted dominance in the 24th minute, when Ruiz completed his brace with a composed finish from a swift PSG move.
Throughout the first half, Real Madrid appeared confused. Los Blancos committed repeated errors and struggled to handle PSG’s prowess, intensity, and fluid midfield rotations.
PSG’s recurrent offensives kept Madrid’s Tubo Courtois busy, with the Belgian goalkeeper pulling off several key saves to prevent an even larger deficit.
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso tried to reorganize his back line, but tactical adjustments failed to close the gap.
PSG’s dynamic dominance in attack and midfield clearly dictated the tempo — leaving Madrid reeling as the whistle blew on a one-sided opening 45 minutes.
The second half started with the same rhythm as the first.
Minute 64th saw Madrid’s veteran Luka Modrić coming to the pitch to save what he could as PSG kept pressing on Courtois’ 18 square meters. It was too little too late, however.
Los Blancos ultimately failed to score even a single goal, leaving room for the Parisians to score their fourth goal in the 87th minute.
With this win, Hakimi’s club secured a well-deserved ticket to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where they will play Chelsea.
