logo
PSG set up Club World Cup semi clash with Mbappe's Real Madrid

PSG set up Club World Cup semi clash with Mbappe's Real Madrid

France 2417 hours ago
Los Blancos squeezed out Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in New Jersey in the day's other quarter-final clash, with Mbappe on the scoresheet for the first time at the tournament.
Luis Enrique's PSG needed to dig deep in front of 67,000 fans at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium after late red cards for Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez.
The French side won the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history in May, despite their key player Mbappe departing for Real last year.
Young forward Desire Doue, who shone on PSG's road to European glory, and Ballon d'Or candidate Ousmane Dembele got the goals in the second half of an enthralling clash against Vincent Kompany's Bayern, who had two strikes ruled out for offside.
The German giants also lost playmaker Jamal Musiala to a horror ankle injury just before half-time, which Kompany said made his "blood boil" because of how unfortunate it is for the 22-year-old.
"After the first red card it became complicated, then with two players less it was a bit of a lottery," said a relieved Luis Enrique.
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and his Bayern counterpart Manuel Neuer both made several excellent saves in a pulsating battle at the air-conditioned, covered venue which allowed both sides' high-pressing, attacking approaches to shine.
Players and spectators at both matches observed a minute of silence in honour of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who tragically died in a car crash on Thursday.
PSG's clash with Bayern was FIFA's expanded tournament's biggest heavyweight clash thus far and the game delivered, even if fans had to wait until the 78th minute for the opener.
After Harry Kane gave the ball away, PSG surged forward and 20-year-old Doue fashioned some space on the edge of the box before flashing a low strike home at the near post.
Bayern were given hope as they hunted for an equaliser when PSG defender Pacho was sent off for a high tackle on Leon Goretzka after 83 minutes.
Kane had a goal disallowed for offside, like Bayern's Dayot Upamecano in the first half, and after Hernandez was dismissed for an elbow Dembele tucked home the second in stoppage time, paying tribute to Jota by copying his video-gaming celebration.
"In the first half we showed them who we are and they had problems with us," said Bayern substitute Thomas Mueller, who played his last game for the club.
Mbappe strikes
Real Madrid cruised for the most part against Dortmund before a flurry of goals at the end left them in danger of losing their lead.
Xabi Alonso, unbeaten at the helm, shifted back to a four-man defence against Niko Kovac's side, shorn of suspended Jobe Bellingham, who would have loved to face his older brother, Madrid's Jude.
The coach decided to leave Mbappe, who missed the three group games after a stomach bug, on the bench and persist with Gonzalo Garcia up front.
The 21-year-old striker paid back Alonso for his confidence by grabbing his fourth goal of the tournament after 10 minutes with a close-range finish from Arda Guler's cross.
"He's doing great work for the team... he's in the right position in the box, he's a proper number nine," said Alonso.
In the 20th minute Fran Garcia doubled Los Blancos' lead, rushing into the box to polish off Trent Alexander-Arnold's dangerous ball across the face of goal.
Madrid were cruising to victory until Max Beier drilled home in stoppage time.
Real responded, with substitute Mbappe netting his 44th goal of the season with an acrobatic finish from another Guler cross.
He paid tribute to the late Jota by making the number 20 with his hands, the Portuguese striker's shirt number at Liverpool.
Madrid were not home and dry. Dean Huijsen was sent off for tugging back Serhou Guirassy as he ran through and the Guinea international netted from the spot, but Dortmund had no time to equalise.
"Everything was under control with the result, not conceding much, but the last 10 minutes were kind of crazy," said Alonso.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Caldentey's Arsenal stint boosting her bid for Euros and Ballon d'Or glory
Caldentey's Arsenal stint boosting her bid for Euros and Ballon d'Or glory

France 24

time3 hours ago

  • France 24

Caldentey's Arsenal stint boosting her bid for Euros and Ballon d'Or glory

Versatile Caldentey is back with her former Barcelona teammates in a powerful Spain side who are the clear favourites for overall victory in Switzerland, ahead of La Roja's second Group B match with Belgium on Monday. The reigning world champions looked a cut above the rest of the tournament in Thursday's 5-0 hammering of Portugal, and expectations are high for Spain to win Euro 2025. "We see it (the pressure) more as a privilege. I think in recent years we've become more accustomed to it. You have to live with it," says the 29-year-old in an interview with AFP. "We have a lot of weapons... We're a super-complete team." Caldentey came into Euro 2025 on a high from winning the women's Champions League with Arsenal, beating her old Barca buddies who have dominated Spanish and European women's football in recent seasons in the final. "The Barca "DNA" is obviously a style of football I love and is more or less similar to what we want to play here (with Spain)," says Caldentey. "But I knew that leaving would also provide me with a change in style, and that was what I was looking for." Her first season in England, which she likens to the Erasmus European student programme, could barely have gone better. Triumph in the Champions League -- her third in as many seasons -- came after she was crowned the Women's Super League's player of the year. "I see it as an Erasmus because I will go back to Spain. It's a bit of an adventure," says Caldentey. "I wanted to learn to adapt to a different game... The first year has gone by very quickly -- I've really enjoyed it but I still have a lot to do. "Getting out of your comfort zone is always a challenge and helps you develop. The English league is a different kind of football, more physical, with lots of turnovers of possession, and open." Caldentey scored 21 goals and set up 16 more for Arsenal last season and that has led to suggestions that she may usurp compatriots Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati for the women's Ballon d'Or. Putellas and Bonmati have shared the Ballon d'Or over the past four seasons and are the the main obstacles to Caldentey being honoured at September's gala event in Paris. "Obviously it's an honour and a privilege to have your name mentioned for such a big award, but right now what I have to do is play well at the Euros," says Caldentey.

Fritz into Wimbledon quarter-finals after Thompson retires
Fritz into Wimbledon quarter-finals after Thompson retires

France 24

time3 hours ago

  • France 24

Fritz into Wimbledon quarter-finals after Thompson retires

The US fifth seed faced gruelling five-set battles in his opening two matches but it was a different story in his fourth-round encounter on Court One. The Eastbourne champion broke Thompson twice to seal the first set in just 21 minutes and led 3-0 in the second set. The Australian then had a medical time-out to deal with an apparent thigh problem. He returned to the court and slipped 40-0 down in the fourth game before deciding he was unable to continue, with the match lasting just 41 minutes. "He's been playing five-setters," said Fritz, 27. "He was out playing a long doubles match yesterday you know, so he's been battling out here and I respected him for coming out. "Obviously his body's not right. So, you know, I feel bad for him." Thompson, 44th in the rankings, was taken to five sets in his opening two singles matches at Wimbledon. Fritz, seeking to reach his first Wimbledon semi-final, will next face Russian 17th seed Karen Khachanov, who earlier beat Kamil Majchrzak with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 on Court Two. Fritz won a record fourth Eastbourne title last month and was pushed to his limits in his opening two matches at the All England Club. The world number five rallied from the brink to defeat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in five sets before going the distance against Gabriel Diallo in the second round. He then downed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in four sets, taking his time on court over three rounds to nearly 10 hours. © 2025 AFP

Messi returns to MLS with spectacular double in Inter victory
Messi returns to MLS with spectacular double in Inter victory

France 24

time13 hours ago

  • France 24

Messi returns to MLS with spectacular double in Inter victory

Miami were playing their first MLS game in more than a month. They had advanced past the first phase of the Club World Cup but fell 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 last week. Messi made sure there was no lingering let-down for Javier Mascherano's side, who are aiming to improve on their curent sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 32 points from 17 matches. "It is a great night, we took the three points that were very necessary to start thinking about the MLS again," Mascherano said. "It is never easy to reintegrate into the competition after the Club World Cup, and the players have done it perfectly." Messi was a key figure throughout, although it was his miscue that led to the first goal for Montreal. His backpass fell right in front of Montreal's Prince Owusu, who fired a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari to make it 1-0 after two minutes. Messi more than atoned. In the 33rd minute, Messi found Tadeo Allende outside the area and Allende chipped a shot over Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirios. In the 40th minute Messi conjured his trademark magic, cutting in from the right corner of the box, eluding Fernando Alvarez and curling the ball in at the far post for a goal that gave Miami a 2-1 halftime lead. Telasco Segovia made it 3-1 in the 60th minute with a blast from outside the area that hit the crossbar and bounced into the net. Messi bagged his second goal two minutes later, evading four defenders and finishing an outstanding solo run with a shot into the heart of the goal. Messi now has seven goals in his last four MLS matches, bringing his total to 12 in 14 games. "Leo is happy playing football," Mascherano said. "Every time he is fit, he is going to play. Clearly we have an extra advantage when he plays and we want to use that advantage as much as possible."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store