Paris Saint-Germain defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup and are set to face either Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals. Goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele secured the win for the French side, despite them finishing the match with nine players after Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez received red cards. Bayern Munich`s Jamal Musiala suffered a horrific injury in a collision with PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the first half and had to leave the game.
Despite a chaotic match, PSG advanced. While they will be without Pacho and Hernandez in the semifinal, they are considered strong contenders to win the entire tournament.
But which team is most likely to challenge their dominance? Let`s rank the contenders.4. Borussia Dortmund (BVB)
The German club will face Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal clash against PSG. Coached by Niko Kovac, Dortmund had a solid run to reach this stage, but their performance in the tournament hinges on their upcoming match against Real Madrid. While they`ve performed well so far, it seems improbable that they would be able to overcome PSG this summer. However, the return of Jobe Bellingham from suspension could provide a boost, potentially helping them reach the final if they manage to defeat Real Madrid.
3. Fluminense
The Brazilian team has been one of the surprises of the tournament, notably eliminating both Inter and Al-Hilal in the knockout rounds. Fluminense is scheduled to play against Chelsea in the semifinals and could potentially face PSG only in the final match. So far, the squad coached by Luis Enrique has demonstrated they are the most formidable side and are expected to win if they meet Fluminense in the final. Nevertheless, Fluminense has shown resilience, conceding only one goal in their last three matches, and possesses the skill set to challenge PSG.
2. Chelsea
The English club secured their spot in the Club World Cup semifinals in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Palmeiras, decided by an own goal. Chelsea took control early when Cole Palmer scored their first goal of the tournament just 16 minutes in, skillfully beating his defender before finding the net. The team led by Enzo Maresca is anticipated to reach the final by overcoming Fluminense in their semifinal tie. However, facing Luis Enrique`s PSG side in the final would be a significant challenge. While Chelsea boasts considerable talent, the level of team cohesion required to defeat this strong PSG team might be insufficient.
1. Real Madrid
The Spanish giants are arguably the strongest team PSG could potentially encounter in the tournament. Should the team coached by Xabi Alonso defeat Borussia Dortmund, they will immediately face PSG in the semifinals. Real Madrid is widely regarded as a co-favorite to win the summer tournament alongside PSG. French superstar Kylian Mbappe made his debut in the FIFA Club World Cup in their last match against Juventus, returning after recovering from gastroenteritis. All attention will be on La Liga`s leading goalscorer, as this summer tournament represents the final opportunity for Xabi Alonso`s squad to secure a trophy this season before the next one commences in August.
Dominic Ashworth