Who: Actual Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
What: Semifinal 2, FIFA Membership World Cup 2025
The place: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, United States
When: Wednesday, July 9 at 3pm native time (19:00 GMT)
Easy methods to observe: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from midday (16:00 GMT) prematurely of our reside textual content commentary stream.
The final two winners of the UEFA Champions League conflict for the remaining spot within the closing of the FIFA Membership World Cup (CWC) when Actual Madrid play Paris Saint-Germain in an epic face-off on the 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium, simply outdoors New York.
Actual are hoping so as to add a report sixth CWC crown to their assortment whereas PSG have to win this trophy to finish a uncommon quintuple of main titles in a single season.
The competition has some further spice thrown in with celebrity Kylian Mbappe, an ex-PSG participant, lining up in opposition to his previous membership for the primary time since signing with Actual Madrid final 12 months.
Right here is all to know earlier than the second CWC semifinal:
How did Actual Madrid attain the semifinals?
Los Blancos completed atop Group H with two wins and one draw.
Actual opened their CWC marketing campaign with a 1-1 draw in opposition to Al Hilal in Miami, earlier than thumping Mexican aspect Pachuca 3-1 in a rematch of their FIFA Intercontinental closing final December. The Spaniards ensured a clean passage into the knockout rounds with a 3-0 demolition of RB Salzburg within the closing group fixture on June 27.
Within the spherical of 16, Actual performed out a troublesome 1-0 win in opposition to timeless rivals Juventus at Onerous Rock Stadium. They then prevailed in a five-goal thriller to eradicate Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a 2024 Champions League closing rematch, capped off by Mbappe’s spectacular match-winning bicycle strike within the 94th minute.
How did PSG attain the semifinals?
PSG completed atop Group B with two wins and one loss.
They opened their Membership World Cup with a dominant 4-0 victory in opposition to Atletico Madrid on the well-known Rose Bowl in Los Angeles.
Of their second group fixture, the European champions suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Botafogo after a first-half aim from Igor Jesus proved to be the match-winner for the Brazilian aspect.
PSG bounced again of their closing group match to defeat hosts Seattle 2-0 at Lumen Discipline to comfortably qualify for the knockout stage.
Within the final 16, the French aspect demolished Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Within the quarterfinal, they hit prime gear, crushing the problem of German champions Bayern Munich to win 2-0 and cruise into the final 4 of the match.
Mbappe vs Dembele: The battle of the high-scoring forwards
Actual Madrid have netted 11 targets within the Membership World Cup to this point, whereas PSG have 12; each groups have been boosted by the return of their injured star strikers, with Ousmane Dembele and Mbappe scoring within the quarterfinals.
The 2 forwards, who had been teammates at PSG till Mbappe’s transfer to Actual Madrid in June 2024 and play collectively for the France nationwide workforce, loved unimaginable offensive statistics within the 2024-25 season.
Mbappe’s very good aim in opposition to Dortmund on Saturday was his forty fourth for Actual Madrid in 58 appearances this season.
Dembele, in the meantime, blossomed after Mbappe’s departure from the Paris membership, switching from the wing to the attacking talisman function in coach Luis Enrique’s system, scoring 34 targets in 51 appearances throughout all competitions in 2024-25, and carrying PSG to home and European titles.
“I’m feeling actually good. It’s the perfect season of my profession,” Dembele advised PSG’s official web site. “I signed for PSG to have moments like this. It’s been an distinctive 12 months, for me personally and for the workforce as an entire. It’s magnificent. However we wish extra. When you’ve tasted it [championships], you need extra.”
Head-to-head
The final time these two sides met was within the UEFA Champions League Spherical of 16 in 2022 when Mbappe nonetheless performed for PSG.
Actual Madrid gained the knockout match 3-2 on mixture earlier than happening to raise their 14th European title – however PSG had been a really totally different workforce then, and that was earlier than Enrique took cost of the French aspect.
What number of Membership World Cup titles have Actual Madrid gained?
Actual Madrid have gained the FIFA Membership World Cup a report 5 occasions. Their final victory was in 2023 once they beat Saudi Professional League aspect Al Hilal 5-3.
Additionally they gained the trophy in 2015 and 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Additionally they maintain probably the most match wins (12) and probably the most whole targets scored within the competitors (40).
What titles have PSG already gained this season?
PSG achieved their finest season in membership historical past within the 2024-25 marketing campaign, successful an ideal four-out-of-four titles: Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions and the UEFA Champions League trophy.
In doing so, PSG grew to become the primary French aspect to win a continental treble and in addition a continental quadruple.
In the event that they win the FIFA Membership World Cup, they’ll add a fifth trophy to their spectacular season, finishing a uncommon quintuple of titles in a single season.
Manchester Metropolis, in 2023, had been the final membership aspect to win 5 titles in a single season: Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Tremendous Cup, FIFA Membership World Cup.
Staff information: Actual Madrid
Gonzalo Garcia, who has led the Actual Madrid assault in Mbappe’s absence and scored 4 targets in 5 appearances, will doubtless hand again the beginning job to the French celebrity in opposition to PSG. Earlier within the match, Mbappe was hospitalised with gastroenteritis however is now believed to be prepared to steer the road from the opening whistle.
“He’s nonetheless not excellent, not one hundred pc, however he’s getting higher daily,” Actual Madrid coach Xabi Alonso mentioned of Mbappe after their quarterfinal victory over Dortmund.
Centre again Dean Huijsen, who picked up a late purple card in opposition to Borussia Dortmund within the quarterfinal, won’t play attributable to suspension.
Actual proceed to be with out the injured trio of David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga and Endrick.
Staff information: PSG
Enrique might be with out suspended defenders William Pacho and Lucas Hernandez after each had been despatched off in PSG’s 2-0 quarterfinal win over Bayern Munich. Lucas Beraldo is predicted to be named Pacho’s alternative within the beginning XI.
Up entrance, Dembele is a robust likelihood to make his first begin of the match after approaching as an alternative in opposition to Munich, with Bradley Barcola transferring to the bench.
PSG stay comparatively injury-free with solely Nordi Mukiele unavailable.
Potential lineups:
Actual Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Rudiger, F Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni, Guler, Bellingham; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Doue
What the coaches and gamers needed to say
Xabi Alonso, Actual coach: “The tactical battle with Luis Enrique might be an enormous take a look at for us. We are going to put together for the upcoming sport [PSG] in a optimistic spirit after in the present day’s [quarterfinal] victory.”
Luis Enrique, PSG coach: “It doesn’t matter who we play within the semifinals. All that issues is that we’re there and that we need to get to the ultimate.”
Antonio Rudiger, Actual defender: “PSG are a really, very powerful workforce to play in opposition to,” Actual defender Antonio Rudiger advised FIFA. “They’ve proven they’re among the best groups in Europe, so it’ll be a tough match. However we’re Actual Madrid and we’re prepared for the problem.”
