PSG seemingly confirmed their status as the ‘best team in the world’ with this comprehensive defeat of Real Madrid in the New Jersey heat.

Goals from Ousmane Dembele, Goncalo Ramos, and a double from Fabian Ruiz secured the victory and a place in the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) final against Chelsea.

There is no doubt Luis Enrique’s Parisians will be strongly favoured to win the title.

 

The match started badly for Xabi Alonso’s Los Blancos and never got much better.

Within the first five minutes goalie Courtois had been called into action, before a bad touch by defender Asencio allowed Dembele to set up Fabian Ruiz for the opener.  

A few minutes later an even worse mistake, a total miskick by Rudiger, gave Ballon d’Or candidate Dembele the chance to race away and drive home the second.

That left PSG in complete control and Madrid looking shell shocked.

They would ease the pace somewhat while still keeping the pass and move regime going.

And on 24 they made it 3-0, after the impressive Achraf Hakimi drove down the right before eventually delivering a cross for Ruiz to make space and shoot home. 

Madrid did show some glimpses of threats on the break, mostly involving Vinicius, but overall they struggled.

While PSG, with their dynamism and movement, often illustrated by Kvaratskhelia and Hakimi/Doue down the flanks, were unstoppable.

Going into the break three goals up, it had been a masterclass from Enrique’s men.

Although Real did get more play in the second period, as various changes were made, the outcome looked decided well before the end.

Amongst the subs was legendary Croatian star Luka Modric, presumably making his farewell appearance for the All Whites.

He would not want to go out like they did, but his side (despite being valued higher than their opponents) were definitely second best.

The performance of their top stars, including the likes of Mbappe, was underwhelming not least for the vast numbers of white-shirted fans among the 77,000 in the MetLife Stadium.

To cap it all PSG even scored a late clincher when subs Barcola and Goncalo Ramos combined to allow the Portuguese to turn nicely and shoot past Courtois in the closing minutes.

Perhaps the Polish referee had some sympathy for the losers as he didn’t add on any extra time at the end.

Surely if PSG replicate that kind of performance it is very hard to see Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea living with them when they meet in the final on July 13.

Report from New Jersey – John Bethell