NEW YORK – Fabian Ruiz scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain delivered a ruthless performance to crush Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup on Wednesday, setting up a highly anticipated final clash with Chelsea.
Playing at the MetLife Stadium before a largely pro-Madrid crowd of 77,542, the reigning European champions stunned the Spanish giants with two early goals from Ruiz and Ousmane Dembele within the opening nine minutes. Ruiz added a second before the break, and Goncalo Ramos sealed the emphatic win late on.
The victory takes Luis Enrique’s in-form side within one win of completing a historic season that already includes the Ligue 1 title and a first-ever UEFA Champions League triumph.
Mbappe Reunion Falls Flat
Much of the pre-match spotlight was on Kylian Mbappe’s reunion with his former club, but the France captain struggled to make an impact on his first start at the tournament and against PSG since his departure last year.
Mbappe, who scored 256 goals for PSG, cut a frustrated figure as PSG dominated possession and dictated the pace of the match. The result was a major setback for Madrid, who had been aiming to win the inaugural 32-team edition of the Club World Cup to add to their record 15 European titles.
Early Blitz Leaves Madrid Reeling
PSG’s intent was clear from the first whistle. Courtois made two outstanding saves early on but could not stop Ruiz from scoring in the sixth minute after a loose ball fell kindly to him. Just three minutes later, Dembele capitalised on a defensive error by Antonio Rudiger to make it 2-0.
Dembele, returning from injury and starting for the first time in the competition, was electric throughout and continues to stake a strong claim for the Ballon d’Or, with this being his 34th club goal since August.
Madrid’s woes deepened when Ruiz struck again in the 33rd minute, finishing off a slick move involving Dembele and Achraf Hakimi, as PSG toyed with their Spanish opponents.
Real Madrid Falter Under Pressure
Real, under new manager Xabi Alonso, looked disjointed and outclassed. With Dean Huijsen suspended and Trent Alexander-Arnold absent, their defence lacked cohesion. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior were ineffective and withdrawn after the hour mark.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue nearly extended PSG’s lead before Ramos eventually did in the 87th minute, turning home a pass from Bradley Barcola to cap off a commanding display.
One Step from Glory
With wins over Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and now Real Madrid — all by convincing margins — PSG look unstoppable. A victory over Chelsea in Sunday’s final would seal a season of unprecedented success for the Parisians and confirm Luis Enrique’s side as the dominant force in world club football.
