Paris Saint-Germain v Inter Miami: Club World Cup, last 16

The Guardian

20 hours ago

Update:
Date: 2025-06-29T16:55:14.000Z
Title: It's 30C, hot, humid and sticky in Atlanta
Content: Minute by minute updates on the action in Atlanta
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Dominic Booth
Sun 29 Jun 2025 18.55 CEST
First published on Sun 29 Jun 2025 17.00 CEST
6.55pm CEST
18:55
this afternoon, so I wonder whether Luis Enrique will start ringing the changes at half-time, with PSG's place in the quarter-finals virtually secure already.
How long before this tournament sifts out all the non-European sides? Will we get an all-European semi-final lineup, for example?
6.52pm CEST
18:52
We wondered before kick-off how evident the gulf in class between the recently-crowned European champions and an MLS side packed with former greats would be, and we've seen an emphatic answer.
Paris Saint-Germain, both off the ball and on it, have exhibited their superiority. In terms of fitness, skill, tactical awareness and attacking flair. They've shown in all in spades and Inter Miami, for whom Lionel Messi has been peripheral to say the least, have been submissive. It's 4-0 and it could get ugly, this one.
6.50pm CEST
18:50
Goodness me, they've scored another!
Hakimi should have buried his first effort there, after Barcola squared it to the Moroccan off the right. His initial shot came off the woodwork, via the goalkeeper but the second was tucked safely away.
And that's half-time.
Updated
at 6.52pm CEST
6.47pm CEST
18:47
Three added minutes for Inter Miami to survive. Oh, and another 45 plus after that of course.
6.46pm CEST
18:46
The answer is yes! Désiré Doué's cross ends up in the net after more sharp stuff down the PSG right. The final touch came off Fabian Ruiz, though he may not have known much about it.
No, it was an own goal from Tomás Avilés. What a miserable few minutes he's had since coming on.
Updated
at 6.48pm CEST
6.45pm CEST
18:45
43 mins: More PSG pressure as the first half nears a conclusion. Can they put this firmly to bed?
6.42pm CEST
18:42
40 mins: Is that game over already? It feels like it, the way this game has gone. Inter Miami need a miracle. Luckily, they do have a miracle-maker in their ranks …
6.40pm CEST
18:40
Walked into the net and Neves has two! Too easy. Nice and unselfish from Fabian Ruiz to square for the Portuguese, who simply could not miss.
Again it came from a fierce Paris Saint-Germain press which has overwhelmed Inter Miami throughout the half.
Updated
at 6.45pm CEST
6.37pm CEST
18:37
36 mins: If Inter Miami can reach half-time sanctuary with the scoreline still 1-0, I suspect Mascherano and his staff will be delighted. Time for another PSG corner.
6.35pm CEST
18:35
Close for Nuno Mendes? Well, the offside flag went up in the end, but the full-back was played through and rounded Ustari, before seeing his shot cleared off the line. Perhaps he'll be thankful for the flag.
6.34pm CEST
18:34
33 mins: Messi has been tidy enough on the ball, but Miami's main problem is their midfield duo – one of which is a 36-year-old Sergio Busquets – are getting completely overrun.
6.32pm CEST
18:32
31 mins: Suárez is doing his best to help his teammates, dropping deeper and deeper to make himself an option. But still Inter Miami can't play through the press and Ruiz gets the next chance as a result… Doué's smart dummy letting the Spain star shoot from 20 yards. Over.
6.29pm CEST
18:29
28 mins: You just cannot take your eyes off Kvaratskhelia. Every time he gets the ball, he's looking to beat his man, with Chelo Weigandt the unfortunate defender tasked with shackling him tonight.
Kvaradona is real.
6.28pm CEST
18:28
26 mins: This time the set-piece produces zilch, as Nuno Mendes hammers a hopeful shot into bodies. Back come the French team, however, their speed of attack unrelenting so far.
6.27pm CEST
18:27
25 mins: A bit better from Miami. Telasco Segovia did well to slalom away from PSG challengers, but as the attack fizzles out it only serves to give Kvaratskhelia more space to charge into, winning another free-kick.
It's in the same spot that the goal came from.
6.25pm CEST
18:25
23 mins: I may have to adjust my TV set, but I believe I just saw Lionel Messi engage in some pressing, like actually closing players down.
Kvaratskhelia is the latest PSG player to send a shot just past the post. It's incredible this is only 1-0.
6.23pm CEST
18:23
22 mins: Hakimi has a shot blocked! Blimey that was a lovely pass from Ruiz that totally unlocked the Miami defence. From the resulting corner, Vitinha volleys at goal but it's well held by Ustari. I think the offside flag went up anyway.
And time for another delay now with Ustari down injured …
6.21pm CEST
18:21
20 mins: Avilés' first act is to be booked for a wildly late challenge. Talk about welcoming yourself to the game.
It's all gone a bit stop-start now.
6.20pm CEST
18:20
19 mins: Allen isn't going to be able to continue, so Tomás Avilés, who started Inter Miami's game against Palmeiras, comes on.
6.18pm CEST
18:18
17 mins: More good interplay between these PSG players, with Mendes' threaded pass finding Doué but Ruiz was off balance when he received it from the French youngster.
Noah Allen is down with a hamstring issue for Miami.
6.17pm CEST
18:17
Another goal from a set-piece? No, Fabian Ruiz is rightly denied by the offside flag. This time it was the second ball, with Barcola's header finding the Spaniard to tap home with his head. Inter Miami survive this time.
Updated
at 6.28pm CEST
6.15pm CEST
18:15
14 mins: The co-commentator, Don Hutchison, has just called Messi a 'grandmaster in a chess game', presumably referring to the Argentinian's entire career and not the past few minutes of this game.
Inter Miami simply have to get their star man into the game – if they can grab a brief hold of the football.
Updated
at 6.16pm CEST
6.13pm CEST
18:13
12 mins: I'm not sure Lionel Messi has touched the ball yet …
6.12pm CEST
18:12
11 mins: We've had a slight delay because Kvaratskhelia remained on the turf after a meaty coming-together with Chelo Weigandt. Not a huge amount in it, but the Georgian did get a push to the face, of sorts.
6.10pm CEST
18:10
9 mins: It's just too fast and too skilful from PSG at the moment and Inter Miami's heads will be spinning trying to keep track of Kvaratskhelia and co. It could be a case of damage limitation for the time being.
6.09pm CEST
18:09
8 mins: That goal could rather scupper Javier Mascherano's gameplan, which was clearly to sit in, remain compact and frustrate the European champions. Inter Miami will now need a goal at some point.
6.07pm CEST
18:07
That didn't take long! It's midfielder to midfielder as Vitinha's free-kick finds the unmarked João Neves ghosting around the back post to head home.
Poor defending from the MLS side. They cannot afford to do that from set-pieces against a team like PSG.
Updated
at 6.11pm CEST
6.06pm CEST
18:06
4 mins: What a sensational run from Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian displays his trademark fast feet, swerving through bodies off the left after a quick layoff from Doué. Such a shame, from a PSG perspective, that it didn't end with a goal. The boy Kvaratskhelia is magic.
Updated
at 6.06pm CEST
6.04pm CEST
18:04
3 mins: It's a pretty partisan crowd, many wearing the pink of the US-based side, rather than a Parisian crowd.
An early break for Inter Miami is quickly snuffed out by Marquinhos.
6.02pm CEST
18:02
1 min: What on earth was that? From kick-off, PSG have just thumped the ball straight out for an Inter Miami goal-kick. Odd.
6.01pm CEST
18:01
Let's go!
5.58pm CEST
17:58
An almighty roar greets Messi's arrival through the doors, pennant in hand. He looks all business. Nearly time for KO.
These walk outs are a bit silly
Updated
at 6.00pm CEST
5.55pm CEST
17:55
I think it's no exaggeration to say this is the Club World Cup game that's attracted the most publicity thus far. The gaggle of photographers and cameramen either side of the tunnel waiting for the players tell its own story. No doubt a certain Mister Lionel Messi will receive more glare than anyone else.
Here come the officials followed by the teams, as the club badges are unfurled during the now-standard light show.
5.47pm CEST
17:47
Just a reminder that the winner of this one will play Bayern Munich or Flamengo (probably Bayern) in the quarter-finals.
That game takes place later on today. The other last 16 ties are:
Inter Milan v Fluminense
Manchester City v Al Hilal
Real Madrid v Juventus
Borussia Dortmund v Monterrey
5.36pm CEST
17:36
And there's some other live football in our offering today, as the Lionesses gear up for Euro 2025 with a final warmup friendly, taking on Jamaica at the King Power Stadium. Rob Smyth is all over the action.
5.30pm CEST
17:30
Some vital pre-match reading from our man in the know when it comes to French football, Philippe Auclair.
5.28pm CEST
17:28
David Beckham is in the building, sporting a sling on his right arm. It's believed that GoldenBalls recently had surgery on his wrist – an injury that apparently dates back to something he sustained in an England match 22 years ago. Anyway, he looks happy enough as always – he's another who's got a foot in both camps this afternoon, as a former PSG player and a current Inter Miami co-owner.
Updated
at 5.54pm CEST
5.13pm CEST
17:13
No great surprises in the two lineups. As predicted, Dembélé is on the PSG bench, with Bradley Barcola joining the two starlets of the French side's Champions League run, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, in the front three. Expect Inter Miami to play a loose 4-4-2, with Messi and Luis Suárez given license to roam around up front.
Both teams have two goalkeepers apiece on the bench, incidentally which is both increasingly common in modern football and usually a completely pointless exercise.
5.07pm CEST
17:07
PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; F.Ruiz, Vitinha, J.Neves; Doué, Barcola, Kvaratskhelia.
Subs: Tenas, Safonov, Beraldo, Ramos, Dembélé, Lee, Hernández, Mayulu, Zaïre-Emery, Kamara, Mbaye.
Inter Miami: Ustari; Weigandt, Falcon, Allen, Alba; Allende, F.Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suárez.
Subs: Yarbrough, Novo, Aviles, Picault, Rodríguez, D.Martínez, Sailor, Afonso, Obando, Cremaschi, Morales.
Updated
at 5.09pm CEST
5.00pm CEST
17:00
The Club World Cup has reached its business stage. Saturday provided the first two last 16 ties, with Palmeiras winning the battle of Brazil, defeating the the South American champions Botafogo, while Chelsea overpowered Benfica. No doubt the Fifa suits will be licking their lips at the thought of this next last 16 encounter… it's the Champions League winners against the Team Lionel Messi Plays For. Paris Saint-Germain versus Inter Miami.
In fairness, there's no shortage of narrative for this one in Atlanta, given it's Messi against his former employers – the team at which he never looked or felt particularly comfortable – and against his former Barcelona manager, Luis Enrique. Inter Miami have a good few others of an ex Barça persuasion, too. You may not give them a prayer and that may prove justified, but hey this could be lots of fun!
You suspect the team that beats PSG might become team that wins the Club World Cup. Let's see what the MLS outfit can do to nullify Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé et al. Dembélé is expected to feature, most likely from the bench, after missing the CWC group stage with injury.
Kick off is at 5pm (BST), which is midday local time in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Updated
at 5.10pm CEST