Fabian Ruiz delivered a masterclass as Paris Saint-Germain overwhelmed Real Madrid 4-0 on Wednesday in the semi-finals of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, setting up a highly anticipated final against Chelsea.
The match, held at the MetLife Stadium outside New York, saw PSG reunite with their former talisman, Kylian Mbappe, in emphatic fashion — one that left the Spanish side reeling and their supporters stunned into silence.
Ruiz opened the scoring in the sixth minute, capitalizing on slack defending and a loose ball after Ousmane Dembele’s initial attempt was parried by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Three minutes later, Dembele himself doubled the advantage, intercepting a botched pass by Antonio Rudiger before slotting the ball coolly into the bottom corner. With just nine minutes played, Luis Enrique’s men had already seized total control.
Real Madrid’s sluggish start never improved. PSG’s third goal came midway through the first half after a dazzling team move that began with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collecting a deflected shot from Mbappe and ended with Achraf Hakimi assisting Ruiz, who calmly beat Fede Valverde and placed his shot beyond Courtois.
PSG’s complete dominance left Madrid unable to respond. The French champions’ fluid attacking movement, pinpoint passing, and cohesive pressing displayed the stark difference between the two sides. Real Madrid, still finding their feet under new manager Xabi Alonso, looked disjointed and toothless throughout.
Mbappe, making his first start in the tournament and his first appearance against PSG since departing the club, struggled to make an impression. The France captain, once the face of the Parisian outfit and its all-time top scorer with 256 goals, found himself isolated and ineffective against a PSG side that seemed even more dangerous without him.
Courtois, one of the few bright spots for Madrid, made key saves early on to deny Ruiz and Nuno Mendes, but his efforts could only delay the inevitable. Even after halftime, PSG continued to push forward. Although Desire Doue had a goal ruled out for offside, the pressure on Madrid’s defense never relented.
By the 87th minute, the final blow was struck. Substitute Bradley Barcola played a pass into the feet of Goncalo Ramos, who expertly controlled, turned, and fired home PSG’s fourth of the evening. Real, having already removed Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior earlier in the half, showed little appetite for a fightback.
With this result, PSG booked their place in Sunday’s final against Chelsea, who await after their own strong showing in the tournament. Victory in the final would complete a dream season for the French champions, who have already claimed the Ligue 1 title and secured their first-ever UEFA Champions League crown back in May — capped off by a record 5-0 win over Inter Milan.
For Real Madrid, the defeat marks a sobering reality check. Their ambition to add a first-ever 32-team Club World Cup to their unparalleled European record has been dashed. The result also casts a shadow over Mbappe’s much-publicized move to Madrid, raising questions about his integration into Alonso’s vision and system.
PSG, meanwhile, are showing no signs of slowing down. Even without suspended defensive stalwart Willian Pacho, their backline remained solid, with Lucas Beraldo fitting in seamlessly. The midfield, marshalled by Ruiz and Hakimi, dictated the tempo, while Dembele’s attacking prowess once again put him in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or.
As Sunday’s final looms, Paris Saint-Germain now stand just one win away from claiming global supremacy — a goal that, judging by their form, is well within reach.
What you should know
Fabian Ruiz led Paris Saint-Germain to a dominant 4-0 win over Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-finals, setting up a final clash with Chelsea.
Former PSG star Kylian Mbappe struggled in his first match against his old club, while Luis Enrique’s side continued to prove they’ve only grown stronger in his absence.
