PSG and Real Madrid Set for Epic Showdown: Four Crucial Matchups That Will Determine Club World Cup Final Berth
The revamped Club World Cup's potential to revolutionize football is yet to be determined, but the tournament has certainly provided thrilling entertainment throughout this summer.
We've witnessed several captivating matches filled with drama, and expectations are high that Wednesday's marquee clash between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain will surpass them all.
This encounter pits the club renowned for European dominance against the continent's current elite. The storylines are abundant, and world-class talent will grace MetLife Stadium as both sides battle for a spot in the Club World Cup final.
Here are four crucial matchups that could determine the outcome of what promises to be an electrifying semifinal under the East Coast sun.
1. World's Best Goalkeepers Face Off
There's unquestionable consensus that Thibaut Courtois and Gianluigi Donnarumma are among the planet's finest goalkeepers. They might actually be the top two at this moment.
Donnarumma faced criticism following his Euro 2020 triumph, with awkward ball-handling errors and notable mistakes damaging his standing. Nevertheless, the Italian goalkeeper embarked on a career-defining streak during PSG's Champions League-winning campaign this year. He delivered outstanding performances against Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal, producing saves worthy of any compilation video.
While PSG's exceptional teamwork deservedly received praise after their dominant victory over Inter in the final, their journey wouldn't have been possible without the towering Italian's contributions.
His Wednesday counterpart, Courtois, has endured injury troubles over recent years and experienced a challenging 2024-25 campaign. The Belgian's error in Madrid's Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona prompted speculation about his declining abilities, but Courtois has demonstrated this summer that he remains an elite shot-stopper. His crucial save preventing Marcel Sabitzer's potential late equalizer in the previous round was arguably the tournament's finest stop.
Both goalkeepers enter the semifinals boasting the tournament's highest save percentages (Donnarumma: 92.5, Courtois: 90.5), per FBRef data. Courtois has faced more action, while Donnarumma approaches Wednesday's showdown with concerns about his involvement in Jamal Musiala's serious injury.
How closely each goalkeeper approaches their peak performance levels may determine which team advances to the final.
2. Superb Engine Rooms
Luis Enrique has discovered an exceptional midfield trio that blends physicality with intelligence, and finesse with power. The seamless coordination between Vitinha, João Neves and Fabián Ruiz suggests they've been teammates for years, despite their different nationalities and ages.
Portuguese pair Vitinha and Neves may be small in build, but they deliver tremendous impact. Vitinha orchestrates the brilliant Parisian symphony from deep positions, while Neves can press and tackle with the effectiveness of prime N'Golo Kanté. Spanish midfielder Fabián, possibly Euro 2024's standout player, never loses composure. He's the quiet assassin of this threesome.
They operate in beautiful synchronization, with rotations and position switches ensuring opponents never know which player they should be tracking.
Madrid's midfield faces an intimidating challenge on Wednesday, and concerns might have been greater under Carlo Ancelotti's management. However, Alonso has rapidly implemented a more organized defensive structure at Madrid, and the inclusion of talented playmaker Arda Güler has helped fill the gap left by Toni Kroos's retirement and Luka Modrić's diminished role.
Alonso aims to establish a PSG-style dynamic in Madrid's midfield. He may have discovered his Vitinha equivalent in Güler. Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde provide relentless energy, while both offer scoring threats.
PSG will employ man-marking to stifle opponents, but Madrid would be bold to mirror this approach. Aurélien Tchouaméni's positioning could prove to be a decisive factor.
3. Nuno Mendes vs. Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alonso's Madrid have been tactical chameleons at this Club World Cup, with the Spanish manager alternating between four and five-man defensive setups. A 3-5-2 formation proved successful against Salzburg and Juventus, but Alonso reverted to a four-man defense for their quarterfinal triumph over Borussia Dortmund.
Nevertheless, their back four transformed into five with Federico Valverde offering Trent Alexander-Arnold substantial assistance against the rapid Karim Adeyemi.
Valverde spent considerable time at right-back last season following Dani Carvajal's ACL injury, and his ability to drop back will be vital on Wednesday. PSG possess a formidable and energetic left flank, and Nuno Mendes specifically will look to exploit the space Alexander-Arnold leaves during transitions.
The former Liverpool defender wants to influence play in advanced positions, but as a deep playmaker. He'll avoid direct confrontations with Mendes. The left-back's potential to overpower Alexander-Arnold on counter-attacks could influence how aggressively the Englishman positions himself when Madrid possess the ball. He'll also require all the protection Valverde can provide, considering Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will also operate down his side.
PSG excel at manipulating defensive formations and drawing opponents out of position, making this a significant test for the Trent-Fede partnership. While Mendes has excelled defensively against world-class opposition in 2025, this match could showcase his attacking capabilities.
4. Taking Advantage of Suspensions
Both squads will miss defensive starters as red cards were abundant in the quarterfinals.
Willian Pacho has been essential for PSG this calendar year, but he'll be unavailable for the semifinal after receiving a red card for a terrible challenge on Leon Goretzka. Lucas Hernández has played a limited role for Enrique's team since recovering from a lengthy injury, and he's also suspended for elbowing Raphaël Guerreiro in the face.
On the other side, Dean Huijsen has started every Club World Cup match for Madrid thus far, but Alonso cannot utilize him at MetLife after his late red card in their victory over Dortmund.
Raúl Asencio, who completed a two-match suspension earlier in the tournament, is anticipated to replace Huijsen in Madrid's defensive line.
Therefore, both teams have suffered significant setbacks, and the abundance of attacking talent in this fixture will be eager to capitalize. We've examined PSG's midfield synchronization, and their front three operates with similar fluidity. While Ousmané Dembélé might begin on the bench again, the crafty Bradley Barcola is a capable replacement.
21-year-old Gonzalo García has been outstanding for Madrid throughout the tournament, but Kylian Mbappé scored a brilliant overhead goal in the previous round and appears ready for his first start. Alongside Vinícius Júnior, they'll be confident about challenging a center-back partnership that has lost considerable pace with Pacho absent. The key question is whether Madrid can consistently bypass PSG's pressing to get these two players on the ball.
Enrique's team should dominate possession against a side still developing under new management, and Alonso will be cautious about pairing the aggressive Antonio Rüdiger with the impulsive Asencio against such high-quality opposition. Expect the five-man defense to emerge, with Tchouaméni and Valverde providing maximum support.