UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain meet Real Madrid in an all-European FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) semi-final, with Kylian Mbappé potentially lining up against his former club for the first time since leaving for Spain.
Match News and Current Form
PSG overcame two late red cards to beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the quarter-finals to make it three consecutive CWC wins without conceding – the ideal response to losing their second group game 1-0 to Botafogo. After completing a famous quadruple earlier this season, the Parisians are no strangers to knockout football and haven’t conceded in any of their last four knockout games in all competitions. As each of their last seven competitive fixtures saw only one side on the scoresheet (W6, L1), the first goal in this clash could well prove vital.
Madrid netted first against Borussia Dortmund in their quarter-final (W 3-2), and were cruising before a frantic injury-time period saw three goals, Dean Huijsen sent off and Thibaut Courtois making a brilliant save at the death. Losing Huijsen through suspension will complicate matters for Los Blancos, but they won’t lack motivation to continue their unbeaten start under new boss Xabi Alonso (W4, D1) as the club has promised a €1 million bonus for every player should they win this competition!
Head-to-Head History
Across 12 previous meetings, most recently contested in 2021/22, it’s Madrid who slightly edge proceedings with five victories to PSG’s four (D3), with five of the last six H2Hs producing over 2.5 goals.
Hot Stats and Streaks
In three of PSG’s last four games, the scoring was confined to one half (W3, L1).
PSG have collected fewer than two yellow cards in each of their last four games.
Madrid have received fewer than two yellow cards in each of their last eight fixtures (W7, D1).
There were over eight corners in five of Madrid’s last six games.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Former Madrid player Achraf Hakimi has directly contributed to a goal in each of PSG’s last three games (G2, A1), and five of his last six goals for the club came in knockout fixtures. Real Madrid’s Gonzalo García’s strike against Dortmund was his fourth goal in the tournament, and third to have opened the scoring.
Both sides will have to shuffle their defences after PSG’s Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez, as well as Madrid’s Huijsen, were sent off in the quarter-finals and will sit this one out.
