Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secures spot among top eight teams
On this Sunday morning, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the current Champions League champion, thrashed Inter de Miami 4-0 to secure their place in the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
First-half goals secure PSG’s victory
All four goals came in the first half, with Joao Neves scoring twice (6’ and 39’), Tomás Avilés scoring an own goal (44’), and Achraf Hakimi adding another (45+3’). PSG dominated the match, controlling 67% of ball possession and outshooting Inter Miami 19 to 8.
High-profile match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The total attendance at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was 65,574 spectators eager to witness the clash between Lionel Messi’s former club and the Argentine star himself. Despite Messi’s presence, his four shots on goal against Gianluigi Donnarumma proved ineffective.
PSG’s impressive run continues
Under the guidance of Luis Enrique, PSG’s coach and former technical director of Messi, Suárez, Busquets, and Alba in Spain, the team showcased their strong performance. Although they didn’t add more goals in the second half, PSG’s recent success includes winning the UEFA Champions League final 5-0 against Inter Milan, securing their first title in the competition.
PSG’s journey to the Mundial de Clubes
PSG secured their spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in December 2023 through a UEFA ranking points system. They arrived in the United States with an unbeaten record, having won the French league, cup, and supercopa in the 2024-25 cycle. They led Group B with wins against Atlético de Madrid and Seattle Sounders, though they lost to Botafogo and didn’t reach the final unbeaten.
PSG’s octavos de final performance
In the octavos of finals against Inter Miami, PSG showcased their dynamic football with players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, and Desiré Doué, backed by a solid midfield featuring Fabián Ruiz, Vitinha, and Joao Neves (scorer of two goals).
Inter Miami’s disappointing campaign
Inter Miami had surprisingly advanced to the octavos of finals as the second-place team in Group A with five points from nine possible. Led by Lionel Messi on the field and Javier Mascherano as the technical director, they remained unbeaten in the group stage with draws against Al Ahly and Palmeiras, alongside an unexpected win over Porto. However, their momentum crumbled in the finals’ opening match against PSG.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Luis Enrique? Luis Enrique is PSG’s current coach and former technical director of Lionel Messi, Suárez, Busquets, and Alba during their time at Barcelona.
- What is the FIFA Club World Cup? The FIFA Club World Cup is an international club football tournament that determines the best club side in the world.
- What is Inter Miami’s current situation? Inter Miami will now prepare for their 17th match of the MLS season against Montreal on July 5, sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference with 29 points from 48 possible.
PSG now awaits their quarterfinal opponent, who will be determined by the match between Flamengo of Brazil and Bayern Munich of Germany, set to take place later on this same Sunday. The first half of the quarterfinals will be completed following these matches.
