PSG Control Early Possession and Take Lead
PSG – Atlético Madrid: Newly crowned European champions Paris Saint-Germain faced Atlético Madrid in their opening Fifa Club World Cup match, dominating from the start. In front of an 80,619-strong crowd at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, PSG enjoyed 82.6% possession in the first 15 minutes. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring with a rifled low strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area, setting the tone in the searing 31°C heat.
Atlético struggled to contain PSG’s midfield movement. Portuguese striker Gonçalo Ramos came close with three attempts but failed to hit the target. Just before half-time, Vitinha drifted through Atlético’s defence and slotted past Jan Oblak to put PSG firmly in control.
Second Half Drama and Key Moments
Oblak briefly kept Atlético in the game by tipping Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s bending strike onto the crossbar early in the second half. Julian Álvarez appeared to pull one back, but his goal was disallowed after VAR ruled that Koke fouled Desire Doué in the build-up. Atlético then faced a setback in bizarre fashion: in the 78th minute, Clement Lenglet received a second yellow card for dissent after the referee failed to act when Oblak was impeded while attempting to roll the ball out, reducing Atleti to 10 men.
Eight minutes from time, Atlético should have pulled a goal back when substitute Alexander Sørloth missed an open goal from a few yards after a low cross found him at the far post. Instead, substitute Senny Mayulu, following up his goalscoring cameo in last month’s Champions League final, fired into the bottom corner in the 87th minute, extending PSG’s lead.
Late Goals Seal the Victory
Added-time drama saw Ibrahim Mbaye hit the post for PSG. Then Atleti defender Robin Le Normand was penalized for handball via VAR, and Lee Kang-in calmly slotted home the penalty for PSG’s fourth goal. The final scoreline reflected PSG’s superiority: a comprehensive win in their first ever Club World Cup outing.
Talking Point: Playing in Extreme Heat
With kickoff at midday local time, players and fans endured blazing sunshine and 31°C temperatures. Fifa’s decision to schedule many games earlier than 17:00 local time has drawn criticism from the world players’ union Fifpro, which argues that cooling-break guidelines do not sufficiently protect health and performance. Sunday’s match included two cooling breaks, during which players often covered their heads with towels. PSG midfielder and player of the match Vitinha described the conditions as “difficult.” With the 2026 World Cup to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico, concerns over dangerous temperatures will persist.
Standout Performances in PSG – Atlético Madrid
Vitinha continued his career-best campaign with an excellent showing at the heart of PSG’s midfield. He took his goal well, spotting a gap in Atlético’s defence, driving forward and calmly placing the ball past Oblak. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia registered two assists, both simple passes that led to brilliance from Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz, though he struggled to make a larger impact and saw one effort denied by Oblak.
Julian Álvarez was lively for Atlético but lacked consistent service; his main chance was ruled out by VAR due to Koke’s foul. Oblak made several saves to keep Atlético in contention until the red card and late PSG goals. Senny Mayulu’s late strike and Lee Kang-in’s penalty added to PSG’s commanding display.
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Statistical Highlights and Season Context
PSG’s improvement this season has been dramatic: 103 of their 154 goals came since the start of the calendar year. After a poor start to the 2024-25 season, they won the Treble of Champions League, Ligue 1 and the French Cup. This momentum carried into the Club World Cup, where they began with a convincing win over Atlético Madrid.
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What’s Next for Both Teams
PSG face Botafogo in their second Group B game in Pasadena on Friday, 20 June (02:00 BST), aiming to maintain momentum after defeating Atlético. Atlético Madrid take on Seattle Sounders in Seattle on Thursday, 19 June (23:00 BST), seeking to regroup after the loss.
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Player of the Match and Top Ratings
Vitinha earned player of the match with an average rating of 7.39. Other top PSG ratings included Fabian Ruiz (7.35) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (7.13). For Atlético, Julian Álvarez led with 6.85, and Jan Oblak followed at 6.66. Key ratings:
- PSG:
- Vitinha (17) – 7.39
- Fabián Ruiz (8) – 7.35
- K. Kvaratskhelia (7) – 7.13
- A. Hakimi (2) – 6.93
- Nuno Mendes (25) – 6.92
- S. Mayulu (24) – 6.85
- Lee Kang-In (19) – 6.84
- Atlético Madrid:
- J. Álvarez (19) – 6.85
- J. Oblak (13) – 6.66
- C. Gallagher (4) – 6.26
- Robin Le Normand (24) – 5.97
- G. Simeone (22) – 5.97
- Javi Galán (21) – 5.90
PSG – Atlético Madrid: A Statement Win
Paris Saint-Germain’s comprehensive victory over Atlético Madrid showcased their strength under Luis Enrique. Dominating possession, creating clear chances, and handling the challenging conditions highlighted their readiness for the remainder of the competition. Atlético will seek to bounce back quickly, while PSG aim to build on this performance against Botafogo.
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