Here’s our saga. The 5 good reasons to follow a match (with some adaptations). We’ll take a look at what’s attractive before each match, with a mix of seriousness and humor. Mind you, this is not an exhaustive tour of the subject. We continue here with Paris Saint-Germain’s match this Wednesday against Real Madrid at MetLife Stadium in New York in the semi-finals of the 2025 Club World Cup (kick-off 9pm CET, PSG/Real Madrid broadcast on DAZN).
5 – A new Real Madrid.
Between the end of the “usual” season and this Club World Cup, Xabi Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti (now Brazil coach) as Real Madrid’s head coach. Of course, he hasn’t had time to put everything in place, but there’s been a change. So it’s time to take a close look at this “new” team.
4 – The opportunity for Lucas Beraldo.
With Willian Pacho (23) and Lucas Hernandez (29) suspended, there’s no real choice in defense. Lucas Beraldo (21) is going to play, as he will in the final if he qualifies. It’s a chance for him to show that he’s a very serious option, despite the particularly stiff competition from Pacho. There are still a few defensive doubts, particularly in terms of duel management. It’s up to him to find the best answer.
3 – Reunion with Kylian Mbappé.
The collective and the club come first, but it’s impossible not to think about Kylian Mbappé as the 26-year-old striker faces PSG for the first time since leaving at the end of his contract last summer. We’ll be keen to see how the players behave, even if they don’t necessarily feel the same way as the annoyed fans. That’s not the main thing, but the result is bound to have a special flavour.
2 – Will Ousmane Dembélé start this time?
More importantly, Ousmane Dembélé (striker e 28) is back in fine form. His debut against Bayern Munich (2-0) last Saturday was interesting. There’s hope that he’ll start the game and be decisive. But it’s not a foregone conclusion, it’s a suspense for tonight. It would be great to see him in top form. It would be a plus for the victory and the show.
1 – The final in sight.
The goal remains the most important, especially when you’re so close to a title that’s still a milestone. PSG are only 2 games away from winning this first Club World Cup, and thus having every possible trophy won this season. It would be historic, and we can only hope that Paris will be able to advance towards the final.
