PSG Crush Atlético Madrid in Club World Cup
Champions are always expected to prove their worth — and Paris Saint-Germain wasted no time doing exactly that. The reigning UEFA Champions League winners stormed into the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a statement-making 4-0 victory over Atlético Madrid in Pasadena.
On paper, Diego Simeone's Atlético are one of the most disciplined and defensively solid teams in Europe. But in California, that identity fell apart. In a one-sided first half, PSG dominated possession — 83% to be exact — and ruthlessly punished the Spanish side’s deep and passive setup.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Fabián Ruiz calmly slotted a low drive into the far corner, having threatened just minutes earlier. That goal opened the floodgates. Just before halftime, Vitinha glided through the heart of Atlético’s midfield completely unchallenged and rifled a shot past Jan Oblak to make it 2-0. It was a damning indictment of the Madrid club’s inability to deal with PSG’s movement and tempo.
Atlético briefly thought they had a lifeline in the second half. In the 57th minute, Koke won the ball in midfield, and Julián Álvarez tucked it home moments later. But VAR intervened, showing that Koke had committed a foul in the buildup. The goal was chalked off, and with it, Atlético’s hopes faded.
There was still a golden opportunity to change the narrative — in the 82nd minute, Alexander Sørloth found himself unmarked in front of goal but blazed his shot over the bar. It proved costly. PSG responded with two late strikes: substitute Mayulu calmly finished at the near post before Lee Kang-in converted a penalty in stoppage time after a clear handball inside the box.
The 4-0 scoreline stunned many, especially given the caliber of the opposition. With this emphatic win, PSG top Group B at the 2025 Club World Cup, where they will also face Botafogo and Seattle Sounders.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup
PSG - Atletico Madrid 4:0 (2:0)
Goals: Fabian Ruiz, 19 (1:0); Vitinha F., 45 (2:0); Mayulu, 87 (3:0); Lee Kang-in, 97 (penalty) (4:0)
PSG: Donnarumma G.; Marquinhos; Mendes N. (Lucas Hernandez, 80); Hakimi; Vitinha F.; Kvaratskhelia (Zaire-Emery, 70); Neves J. P.; Pacho; Fabian Ruiz (Lee Kang-in, 70); Doue D. (Mbaye, 80); Ramos G. (Mayulu, 65)
Bench: Safonov M.; Tenas; Beraldo L.; Kamara N.
Yellow Cards: Fabian Ruiz 28; Marquinhos 62
Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Galán J. (Reinildo, 62); Lenglet (till 78); Le Normand; Barrios P. (Sørloth, 70); De Paul (Gallagher C., 62); Llorente M.; Lino (Koke, 46); Álvarez Jul.; Griezmann; Simeone G-o (Angel Correa, 62)
Bench: Gomis Aleman; Musso; Azpilicueta; Kostis; Molina N.; Gimenez Jose; Witsel; Lemar; Riquelme R.; Martín C.
Yellow Cards: Lenglet 21, 78; Le Normand 25; Simeone G-o 29; Koke 48; Angel Correa 63; Reinildo 64
Red cards: Lenglet 78'
