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These clubs last met in 2022 in the Champions League. PSG looked like winning the round-of-16 tie, but threw away a two-goal aggregate lead in the second half of the second leg at the Bernabeu, Karim Benzema stunning them with a 16-minute hat-trick. At which point we all began to wonder whether PSG would ever win the trophy they craved more than any other. But here we are now. Three years is an awfully long time in football.
Here’s how the two teams made it through the quarters. A couple of games that got super-hectic towards the end.
Pre-match reading. A tale of blackmail and revenge, power and money, claim and counter-claim. The good doctor explains why all eyes will be on Kylian Mbappé this afternoon.
PSG make two changes to their starting XI from the incident-packed quarter-final 2-0 win over Bayern Munich. Lucas Beraldo replaces the suspended Willian Pacho in defence, while Ousmane Dembélé takes the place up front of Bradley Barcola, who is benched.
Real Madrid also make two changes to their starting line-up, following their 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund. Raúl Asencio comes in for suspended defender Dean Huijsen, while Kylian Mbappé makes his first start of the tournament. Trent Alexander-Arnold is out injured.
The teams
Paris Saint-Germain: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Marquinhos, Lucas Beraldo, Vitinha, Neves, Fabian, Dembele, Doue, Kvaratskhelia.
Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Kamara, Lee, Zaire Emery, Mayulu, Goncalo Ramos, Barcola, Mbaye.
Real Madrid: Courtois, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Asencio, Valverde, Francisco Garcia, Bellingham, Guler, Mbappe, Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius Junior.
Subs: Lunin, Lucas, Carvajal, Eder Militao, Ramon, Lekhedim, Modric, Ceballos, Diaz, Camavinga, Martin, Andres, Rodrygo, Munoz.
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland).
Preamble
Yes, there are issues with the newly expanded Club World Cup. And they have been, quite correctly, well documented. But you’re here. I’m here. Let’s all of us not pretend that, despite it all, a semi-final clash between the most entertaining team on the planet right now and a brand-new incarnation of the most prestigious club side in the world isn’t anything other than exciting. Enticing. Exotic. Erotic. It kicks off at 8pm UK time, 3pm in New Jersey. It’s on!
