
PSG 4 Real Madrid 0: Chelsea set for mouthwatering Club World Cup final against red-hot European champion
The former Blues defender's embarrassing howler let in PSG hitman
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Ousmane Dembele capitalised on Antonio Rudiger's mistake
Credit: AP
And it was already one nil as the Spanish giants were torn to shreds in a first half blitz.
Fabian Ruiz had scored three minutes earlier from another cock up at the back as the reigning European champions went for the jugular with an early onslaught that paid off.
The Spanish midfielder made it 3-0 by half time with another clinical finish to fire PSG into Sunday's final against
Rudiger, 32, was at Chelsea for five years and was part of their triumphant 2021 Champions League squad.
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But the German centre half and his fellow defenders were humiliated in the first 45 minutes with a series of mistakes that cost them dearly.
Defeat means Madrid end the season without a trophy of any kind. They were also humbled 3-0 by Arsenal in the Champions League last season.
New boss and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has much rebuilding work to do even though he has just signed full back Trent Alexander-Arnold to strengthen his squad.
Former Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold was ruled out of this game with injury.
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Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring for PSG
Credit: Reuters
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It started the rout
Credit: Reuters
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Ousmane Dembele extended PSG's lead
Credit: Getty
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Dembele continued his scoring form
Credit: Getty
Victory is the 48th for runaway European kings PSG which is a record for them in one single season.
And they could not have wished for a better start against their illustrious Spanish opposition when the first of several blunders gave them the early lead.
A mistake by Raul Ascencio trying to tackle Dembele allowed Fabian to bury a shot from less than ten yards out.
Rudiger then let the ball slip under his foot shortly after and Dembele raced clear to blast home number two past ex-Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois.
And Fabian made sure there was no way back for 15-times European champions Madrid when he ruthlessly finished off a square ball from ex-Galactico Hakimi.
Desire Doue actually made it 4-0 early in the second half but the goal was ruled out with Dembele offside.
Chelsea face their toughest task yet taking on PSG in Sunday's all-European final.
After losing their first game at the Club World Cup, Luis Enrique's side have won every match and prior to kick off against Madrid had not conceded a goal.
Madrid brought on veteran Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, 39, for his farewell game before moving to AC Milan after 13 years in the Spanish capital.
But things only got worse for Modric & Co Goncalo Ramos came off the bench to make it 4-0.
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Ruiz put the game to bed
Credit: Getty
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Ruiz's PSG now play Chelsea in the final
Credit: Getty
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Luka Modric came on for his final Madrid match
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The Journal
34 minutes ago
- The Journal
Katie Taylor defeats Amanda Serrano for third time and ends their rivalry in New York
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With the Puerto Ricans all but reserved to Serrano's fate, the Irish grew louder. Taylor, imbued by the sound of her name echoing around the arena, converted that confidence into a dominant final round — her finest of the bout. There were fewer Irish nerves this time as the judges handed in their tallies. Taylor had done a job on her. Game over, ball bursht. Taylor was elated as her hand was raised, while Serrano was again tearful in defeat — but they were more so tears of appreciation, though, for her involvement in three fights with a fistic soulmate that materially changed the face of her sport. The late, great Jerry Eisenberg, who was friends with both men, once said that Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought each other not to win the World heavyweight title but to win the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier title. 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Written by Gavan Casey and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .


The Irish Sun
38 minutes ago
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Irish Times
42 minutes ago
- Irish Times
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Enrique had just come off a disappointing World Cup with Spain. It is not rewriting history to say his stock was not as high as it is now; that he had dipped since winning the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015. In any case Chelsea are happy with Maresca's first year in charge. They are adapting to his positional-based style and play with a clear idea. 'Most people expect PSG to win but we don't think that,' Levi Colwill said on Friday. 'When you play for Chelsea you're not scared to play against anyone. I think they'll be looking at our forwards and know it's not going to be easy.' The centre-back acknowledged that dealing with the ferocity and immediacy of PSG's press will not be easy. Do Chelsea play out of the back regardless? 'You have to respect how they press but we're not going to change our whole way to play them,' Colwill said. 'We've got this far playing our football so why are we going to change that now?' 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