PSG inflict humiliating defeat on Real Madrid to reach Club World Cup final
The Spanish midfielder added another before half-time and Goncalo Ramos got a late fourth as Luis Enrique's side moved one game away from glory at FIFA's new tournament.
Victory against Chelsea on Sunday would complete a campaign of unparalleled success for the Parisians, who won the French title and then the first UEFA Champions League in their history in May.
"We are in a special season, a special moment, and we deserved to win," Luis Enrique told broadcaster DAZN before looking ahead to the final.
"We are going to try, one more step against a good team like Chelsea. They did great, they performed the whole competition and now it is time for us to prepare for that... we want to make history in our club, and then take some holidays."
After blowing away Inter Milan 5-0, the biggest victory in European Cup final history, PSG began their Club World Cup bid by putting four past Atletico Madrid and the ease with which they disposed of Real was striking.
PSG's fluidity contrasted starkly with Madrid, who are a work in progress under new coach Xabi Alonso.
"We were not good enough today," said Alonso. "We are not the first ones to lose to them but we have a lot of different things to improve."
Mbappe struggled to make any impact on his first start at the tournament and in his first game against PSG since leaving the French club last year.
The defeat is a real blow to Real as they hoped to win the first 32-team Club World Cup to add to their record tally of 15 European Cups.
PSG were without imposing centre-back Willian Pacho due to suspension following his sending-off against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, but that did not matter.
Lucas Beraldo slotted into the defence with ease, and the rest of PSG's first-choice line-up was there.
Day to forget for Mbappe
Real were missing central defender Dean Huijsen through suspension, while the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold was an added blow.
The return to the starting XI of Mbappe, who missed the entire group stage through illness, did not prevent young striker Gonzalo Garcia from keeping his place.
But the Spanish giants' front line, completed by Vinicius Junior, made no real impact, such was the extent of PSG's domination.
Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made two superb saves inside the opening five minutes, the first to tip away a Ruiz shot, and the second to deny Nuno Mendes from point-blank range.
Yet Courtois could not prevent Paris from scoring in the sixth minute, as Dembele pounced on slack defending by Raul Asencio. The Real 'keeper saved at the forward's feet but Ruiz converted the loose ball.
Three minutes later and the contest was effectively over when Antonio Rudiger failed to control a simple pass from Jude Bellingham, allowing Dembele to run through before finishing low into the corner.
Like his friend Mbappe, Dembele was starting for the first time at the competition having been injured. That was a 35th club goal since August for a player who is a serious candidate for the Ballon d'Or.
It was turning into a humiliating afternoon for Real as PSG got their third midway through the first half.
A deflected shot by Mbappe was easily held by Gianluigi Donnarumma, and no Madrid player touched the ball again before they were picking it out of their net a minute later.
Dembele released Achraf Hakimi on the right and he squared for Ruiz, the Spain star taking a touch to hold off Fede Valverde before finishing.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could have got a fourth before the interval, while Desire Doue had a goal disallowed early in the second half.
But Real were not coming back, and Alonso opted to take off Bellingham and Vinicius just after the hour mark in a clear sign of surrender.
PSG then got their fourth after 87 minutes when Ramos controlled a pass from fellow substitute Bradley Barcola, turned and fired in.
Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CAF
3 hours ago
- CAF
Morocco - Senegal: A decisive clash for a place in the quarterfinals
This Saturday, Morocco and Senegal meet for a decisive clash in Group A of the Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024, at the Stade Olympique in Rabat. Buoyed by a supportive crowd, the Atlas Lionesses need only a draw to secure their place in the quarterfinals. On the other side, the Senegalese are playing for something bigger: a victory, and the doors to the next round will be within reach. A tense, evenly matched duel between two nations looking to make their mark in this edition. Revenge for a 7-0? Last October, Morocco swept Senegal aside 7-0 in a friendly match. But neither coach Mame Moussa Cissé nor his player Sadiqatou Diallo intend to make this memory a burden: "That match allowed us to identify our weaknesses. Since then, we've worked hard. It will be a different context," explained the U20 captain, now promoted to the senior team. It is a way of saying that the page has been turned, that any scores, if any, will be settled differently: through intensity, organization and collective effort. The Moroccan team is equally cautious: "It won't be the same match. We saw what Senegal achieved against DR Congo and Zambia. They're a well-organized team, with quality and desire," acknowledged Sakina Ouzraoui, a brilliant player in the Moroccan midfield. A tactical and mental battle The Senegalese coach emphasized mental preparation: "Our team's identity is based on individual responsibility and collective commitment. The girls know they will have to raise their game." A challenge made more demanding by the fact that they will face two opponents: the Moroccan team and their home crowd. "That's what makes this type of match even more exciting," smiled Cissé. "We love this atmosphere. And there's a strong Senegalese community here." On the Moroccan side, coach Jorge Vilda highlighted the experience: "We've been preparing for this competition for over two months. Physically, thanks to the medical staff, we're ready." The Spanish coach acknowledged that Senegal had improved: "They're a cohesive team, capable of surprising players. We'll have to be ready." Morocco seeks confidence, Senegal on the rebound Morocco leads Group A with four points, ahead of Zambia (four points) and Senegal (three points). A victory would secure them first place and, potentially, a more 'decent' quarterfinal. Vilda wants to remain true to his game plan: "We won't change our identity. We have our model, and the players are motivated to deliver a successful performance." With five goals scored in two matches and above-average technical prowess, the Atlas Lionesses are formidable but still have room for improvement defensively. Contrarily, Senegal put on a solid front against Zambia (3-2), despite the defeat. "We saw a team that has grown in strength, that has managed to cause problems for a strong African team," analyzed Mame Moussa Cissé. Nguenar Ndiaye's performance up front and Mama Diop's activity were praised. At the final whistle, two ambitions Between Morocco and Senegal, the stakes go beyond simple qualification. It is about proving that progress is not measured solely by the score in a previous friendly, but rather by the ability to reinvent oneself, to stand up to adversity, and to overcome pressure.
Al-Ahram Weekly
13 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Nottingham Forest sign Brazilian center back Jair Cunha from Botafogo - World
Nottingham Forest said on Friday it has signed Brazilian center back Jair Cunha from Botafogo. The Premier League club said the 20-year-old was given a five-year contract. Financial details were not given. Cunha with the Brazilian side Botafogo reached the round of 16 at the Club World Cup in the United States. Cunha scored one goal at the tournament. He joined Botafogo in February after making his first 24 senior appearances with another Brazilian club, Santos, for which he played since he was 10. Welcome to Nottingham Forest, Jair Cunha! ✍️ — Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) July 11, 2025 Forest will return to European football for the first time since 1996 after finishing seventh in the Premier League. 'Jair has flourished in Brazil and now has new ambitions as he moves to the Premier League," Forest's chief football officer Ross Wilson said. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
13 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Cycling: Pogacar pounces to retakes Tour de France lead - Omni sports
Tadej Pogacar won stage 7 of the Tour de France on Friday to retake the overall lead with a trademark swoop up the short, steep slope of the Mur de Bretagne. Visma's Jonas Vingegaard was second, right on Pogacar's wheel at the line with Briton Oscar Onley third after a late nine-rider pile up marred the finale. Pogacar, the defending champion, gained four sec on Vingegaard with ten bonus seconds to the Dane's six. In the overall standings, Remco Evenepoel is second overall 54 seconds off first as he came sixth on the day, two seconds adrift. French starlet Kevin Vauquelin continues his bright run in third at 1min 11sec while two-time champion Vingegaard is fourth at 1min 17. The overnight leader Mathieu van der Poel rounds out the top five at 1min 29sec after wilting on the final climb, scene of his 2021 coming of age win and his first yellow jersey. The day's action revolved around two ascents of the Mur de Bretagne, a 2km climb at an average of 6 precent, that has been written into Tour de France folklore. With the Tour returning to Brittany after a four years gap, huge festive crowds packed the villages and pretty country lanes as the temperature hit 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit). The 179 remaining riders left Saint Malo on the north-west coast passing the magnificent Sillon beach with its granite sea-wall and chic sea-front buildings. Fewer of them will take the start line for Saturday's flat run to Laval, with doubts over key Pogacar teammate Joao Almeida and the Colombian Santiago Buitrago. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
