In the first game of the Club World Cup’s Group B in Los Angeles, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Atletico Madrid 4-0, showcasing their supremacy as European champions.
After just 19 minutes, Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring by taking advantage of an Atletico error deep in their own territory. Vitinha extended Paris Saint-Germain lead right before halftime, turning a swift counterattack into a goal while Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann had squandered his team’s best opportunity until that moment.
In the second half, Julian Alvarez had a goal ruled out following a foul by Koke on Desire Doue during the buildup, as the match grew increasingly chaotic and disjointed. Things worsened for Atletico when Clement Lenglet received a second yellow card with just 12 minutes left, allowing Luis Enrique’s PSG to control the game comfortably. Senny Mayulu added a third for PSG, and Lee Kang-in capped it off by converting a penalty with the final kick of the match, just ahead of the group’s other fixture between Brazil’s Botafogo and the Seattle Sounders.
PSG’s Constant Rotation
Paris Saint-Germain could have been forgiven for taking it easy in the blazing noon heat following previous victories, including as a 5-0 thumping of Inter in the UEFA Champions League final and a French Cup victory. Still, they showed no signs of stopping down.
Because of PSG’s mesmerizing pace and unrelenting positional movement, Atletico’s defense was always on edge. Particularly in the first half, Paris Saint-Germain attacking fluidity utterly decimated Diego Simeone’s team. Their defensive tenacity is well-known.
The core of PSG’s strength was an exceptional midfield trio. Ruiz demonstrated his dynamism by regularly sprinting into space behind Atletico’s lines, while Vitinha frequently dropped into a more defensive role to help full-back Nuno Mendes gain forward impetus. Joao Neves showed incredible endurance in the sweltering heat, providing persistence off the ball.
The first goal was crucially contributed to by all three midfielders; Ruiz and Neves were both involved just before Ruiz surged forward to regain control and finish from the edge of the area.
The constant interchange between players—such as right-back Achraf Hakimi popping up on the left and Mendes bursting through the middle—was dizzying to witness and posed a significant challenge for Atletico to defend against.
The Beginning of Atletico’s Horror
Atletico Madrid entered this league with the intention of establishing themselves as one of the top football teams. However, they have not had a positive experience in the United States. Players and employees have observed the unsettling environment at their hotel in downtown Los Angeles, which is close to the locations of earlier rallies, but they have not allowed it to interfere with their game preparation.
At the half, Simeone made tactical adjustments that gave Atletico greater stability by replacing the less effective Samuel Lino with experienced Koke. Alvarez thought he had narrowed the gap with a fine finish, only for VAR to disallow it after Koke’s earlier foul in the buildup.
Atletico will remain at the same hotel throughout the group stage, except for a trip to Seattle for their next match against the Sounders. They will be hoping that a new environment might inspire a turnaround after a disheartening start.
