PSG thrash Real Madrid to set up Club World Cup final against Chelsea

    Paris St-Germain cruised into the FIFA Club World Cup final with a dominant 4-0 victory over Real Madrid at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

    Fabian Ruiz Fabian Ruiz

    The semi-final, which saw PSG dismantle the Spanish giants with ruthless efficiency, was effectively over within the first 24 minutes.

    Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 6th minute, pouncing after Real defender Raul Asencio's mistake, with the referee allowing play to continue despite Thibaut Courtois appearing to foul Ousmane Dembele in the build-up.

    Just three minutes later, Dembele made it 2-0, capitalising on Antonio Rudiger's mis-kick. Ruiz struck again later in the first half, finishing off a flowing move involving Achraf Hakimi and Dembele. Goncalo Ramos sealed the rout with a late fourth.

    Real Madrid, missing injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, could offer little resistance. Watching on was Kylian Mbappe - now a Madrid player - who left PSG a year ago on a free transfer.

    Despite contributing 48 goals and assists this season, Mbappe's new side finished the 2024-25 campaign without silverware.

    PSG, by contrast, are chasing their fourth major trophy of 2025 - or fifth, if including the French equivalent of the Community Shield.

    Their recent form has been emphatic: a 5-0 hammering of Inter Milan in the Champions League final, 4-0 over Atletico Madrid, 2-0 against Bayern Munich while down to nine men, and now 4-0 over Real Madrid.

    Luis Enrique's team will face Chelsea in Sunday's final, also at MetLife Stadium. They then prepare for the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham on 13 August. Real Madrid, meanwhile, are hoping to postpone their La Liga opener against Osasuna, currently scheduled for 19 August.