Chelsea vs PSG: Four Crucial Matchups Set to Determine Club World Cup Champions
The anticipated European supremacy in the revamped Club World Cup didn't materialize as expected, yet the tournament's grand finale will feature two UEFA representatives.
Sunday's showdown pits the Champions League victors against the Conference League champions, as Paris Saint-Germain faces Chelsea at MetLife Stadium.
The French giants arrived as tournament favorites following their remarkable triumph over Inter in Munich, and despite a minor setback, Luis Enrique's squad has remained resilient under the American heat. They represent the pinnacle of world football, arguably the finest team we've witnessed in recent memory, though Chelsea has historically demonstrated their ability to cause upsets as underdogs.
Here are four crucial matchups that may determine Sunday's Club World Cup championship.
1. Robert Sánchez vs. PSG's Press
While Bayern Munich led the tournament in pressing statistics, PSG ranks fourth in shots and second in goals from high turnovers per 90 minutes (via Opta).
Beyond their possession mastery, their off-ball work establishes the rhythm. With complete buy-in to Enrique's philosophy, this PSG squad presses relentlessly. Every player understands their assignment. Energy flows throughout the field, especially from the fullbacks, creating traps to win possession in central zones.
Madrid couldn't handle the pressure, and their failure to break PSG's press left their attacking stars virtually invisible.
PSG's semifinal dominance stemmed from two early errors they forced through their pressing intensity. Chelsea possesses the personnel to potentially handle PSG's coordination in build-up play, but the French side will likely target one particular player: the goalkeeper.
Robert Sánchez has been adequate this summer, which might concern Chelsea fans. A costly mistake looms, and it's easy to imagine the Spaniard struggling under pressure. The keeper also plays a vital role in bypassing PSG's press through long balls, which could be crucial for the Blues.
2. Battle of Box-Crashers
Fabián Ruíz was arguably Euro 2024's standout performer and a cornerstone of Enrique's team last season, yet the Spaniard doesn't receive the same recognition as some teammates.
The elegant midfielder demonstrated his worth again in the semifinal, netting twice in PSG's 4-0 Madrid demolition. While his long-range threat is known, Fabián also excels as a late-arriving box presence, similar to Chelsea's Enzo Fernández.
The Argentine has transformed into a regular scorer under Maresca, with his advanced positioning creating more chances to overwhelm defenses in the penalty area. Fernández's Club World Cup began with the type of goal we became accustomed to seeing from him last season. He's developed excellent timing, often finding space behind defenders.
His scoring approach differs from Fabián's, with the Spaniard more dangerous from cutbacks and loose balls.
These two are destined for plenty of interaction on Sunday.
3. João Pedro: X-Factor
While adding players mid-tournament seems questionable, Chelsea has capitalized on FIFA's regulation by acquiring João Pedro, who could serve as their game-changer in Sunday's final.
The Brazilian's rapid adaptation to Chelsea life exceeded expectations, with an impressive start to his Blues career. An energetic substitute appearance led to his first start, where he netted two brilliant goals in Chelsea's semifinal win over Fluminense, his childhood team.
His recent performance has secured Pedro a starting role on Sunday, and despite Maresca having Cole Palmer and the impressive Pedro Neto available, the newcomer might be Chelsea's key to disrupting the Parisian machine.
Though difficult to detect, this PSG team has vulnerabilities. Technical excellence in build-up could compromise their pressing, and without Willian Pacho, their center-back partnership appears exploitable. Pedro isn't a traditional target man, but he's physical enough to challenge his Brazilian counterparts in PSG's defensive core.
Regardless of Chelsea's overall performance, they'll likely be restricted to brief moments on Sunday, but Pedro has already shown he can create magic from minimal opportunities.
4. Containing PSG's Front Three
Ousmané Dembélé's first tournament start came in the semifinal, coinciding with PSG's most commanding performance since the Champions League final. This timing isn't coincidental.
Dembélé could claim the Ballon d'Or following an extraordinary 2024-25 season. His role as a mobile false nine who creates chaos from any field position has transformed this PSG team. His clinical semifinal finish marked his 35th goal of the campaign.
The Frenchman appears to orchestrate everything positive while elevating his teammates' performances. Though Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have proven capable in his absence, their collective harmony creates something no individual brilliance can match.
Their seamless positional rotation makes this potent attack nearly unstoppable. With fullbacks surging forward and midfielders flooding the box, PSG can damage opponents in countless ways. They've scored 16 goals in the tournament while conceding just once.
Botafogo managed to contain a rotated PSG side in group play, but no team has tamed the Parisians since Dembélé's remarkable transformation. This Chelsea side won't easily surrender territory. They'll seek to win possession high up the field, but their pressing must be absolutely precise to avoid catastrophe.