KLIK SAJA - The FIFA Club World Cup once again delivers a thrilling showdown between European powerhouses as Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid face off in the second semifinal, taking place Wednesday night local time in New Jersey.
Coincidentally, both teams booked their spots in the semifinals after eliminating strong German opponents in the quarterfinals.
This matchup features the last two UEFA Champions League winners, battling it out for a place in the final against either Chelsea or Fluminense.
After a shaky start in the group stage with a draw against Botafogo, PSG have found their stride, winning their next three matches, including a convincing victory over Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Despite finishing that game with just nine men on the pitch, Luis Enrique’s squad managed to score a late goal and seal a 2-0 win over the Bundesliga champions — marking their third consecutive clean sheet.
Interestingly, PSG’s first match in the tournament was also against a Madrid-based team, and heading into this clash against Real, they’ll be eager to replicate their dominant 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the opener.
The French giants have developed a habit of producing big wins, as seen in their emphatic 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
This season, PSG have maintained their explosive form with an astonishing 164 goals across all competitions.
Manager Luis Enrique is no stranger to this tournament. He lifted the trophy with Barcelona in 2015, and now, a decade later, he’s guiding a PSG side considered strong favorites to go all the way.
However, standing in their way is Real Madrid — a club that has been a perennial thorn in PSG’s side during major Champions League clashes over the past decade.
Most notably in 2022, Madrid staged a dramatic comeback from a 0-2 aggregate deficit to eliminate PSG in the round of 16.
This time, Madrid return under new leadership, with Xabi Alonso replacing Carlo Ancelotti. But their form remains just as impressive — unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Barring a slightly disappointing draw against Al Hilal in their opening game, Real Madrid have won their remaining four matches in the Club World Cup, topping their group with victories over Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg.
Their path to the final has been far from easy. After dispatching Juventus in the quarters, Madrid survived a major scare against Borussia Dortmund.
