Club World Cup Preview: PSG vs Real Madrid — A Final in Advance, Mbappé Faces Former Club for the First Time

At 3 AM on July 10, the Club World Cup semifinals will feature a highly anticipated clash between the new Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and the Champions League giants Real Madrid. Compared to the other semifinalists Fluminense and Chelsea, this match can be regarded as a final preview. Even more exciting is Mbappé’s first encounter with his former club PSG, which has captured fans’ attention.

PSG head coach Enrique has transformed the team into a formidable unit over two seasons. Winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles is just basic; reaching the Champions League semifinals and winning the title last season by defeating Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal, and thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final proves Enrique’s strength. PSG also topped the world club rankings for the first time.

After Mbappé’s departure, PSG still boasts star-studded lineups but without a single standout like Messi, Neymar, or Mbappé himself. The team appears more balanced, with Donnarumma ranked among the world’s top five goalkeepers, and fullbacks Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi considered among the world’s best. Center-backs Marquinhos and William Saliba are also highly reliable. The midfield trio of João Neves, Vitinha, and Fabian Ruiz combines solid strength despite modest fame, with individual market values near €80 million each, potentially surpassing €100 million next season. The attack is frighteningly deep with Dembélé, Dujé, and Kvaratskhelia all valued around €90 million, while backup players Barkola and Emery await opportunities.

In this Club World Cup, PSG opened with a 4-0 thrashing of Atlético Madrid, showing that their 5-0 Champions League final win over Inter was no fluke. They suffered a narrow 0-1 loss to Botafogo, but bounced back with a 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders to top the group. The round of 16 match against Inter Miami attracted attention due to Messi’s return against his former club, but PSG comfortably won 4-0, scoring all four goals in the first half. The quarterfinals against Bayern Munich proved tougher but PSG still won 2-0, even after losing two players to red cards.

Real Madrid, after losing both the Champions League and La Liga titles last season, replaced coach Ancelotti with former player Xabi Alonso. Alonso faces the challenge of balancing Mbappé, Vinícius, and Bellingham’s coexistence. Madrid strengthened their defense with the additions of Arnold and Heisen. In the group stage, Real drew 1-1 with Al Hilal, then defeated Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg, topping the group. A key discovery for Madrid has been 21-year-old forward Gonzalo García, who shined when Mbappé missed matches due to illness, scoring crucial goals and assists.

Madrid’s lineup matches PSG’s star quality. Goalkeeper Courtois is one of the world’s best, right-back Arnold competes with Hakimi as the best in the world, although left-back Fran García is a step behind Nuno Mendes. Center-backs Rüdiger and Heisen form a solid pair comparable to PSG’s Marquinhos and Saliba. Midfielders Valverde, Tchouaméni, and Guiller combined value is about €250 million, surpassing PSG’s midfield trio. The attack features Bellingham (€180 million), Mbappé (€180 million), and Vinícius (€170 million); if all start together, Madrid’s front three are worth about €530 million—almost double PSG’s attacking trio. Madrid’s bench includes Rodrigo (€90 million) and the tournament’s top scorer Gonzalo García.

Undoubtedly, Mbappé is the star of this match. Since joining Madrid on a free transfer in summer 2024 amid a bitter departure from PSG, he has faced tremendous pressure. Madrid lost both the Champions League and La Liga titles, while PSG achieved a treble—heightening the stakes for Mbappé. This match marks his first direct confrontation with his former club, a crucial moment for his career and pride.

Both teams will miss key central defenders due to red card suspensions: PSG’s William Saliba and Lucas Hernández, and Madrid’s Heisen. Considering Mbappé’s physical condition, he may start on the bench.

Historically, Madrid holds a slight advantage over PSG in their last six meetings, with 3 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. Their latest encounter was in the 2021-22 Champions League round of 16 second leg, when Madrid won 3-1 with Benzema’s hat-trick, while Mbappé scored PSG’s lone goal. This time, the prediction favors Madrid’s victory—although your writer is an Inter Milan fan, the hope is for Madrid to triumph!