Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid were ruthlessly beaten 4-0 to PSG in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup in New York, as Softfootball gathered. The Los Blancos were totally outclassed and nothing could have saved them from the embarrassment.
Kylian Mbappe was the most disappointed player on the pitch as he endured an ugly reunion with his former team. According to The Guardian, Mbappe left PSG to win European trophies but now PSG have won the UEFA Champions League and knocked him out of the FIFA Club World Cup.
PSG were simply unstoppable and Alonso’s team felt the rod in a match that was one sided. It was an even game for about five minutes, and a couple of early Madrid attacks suggested that this might be a more competitive contest than most predicted.
But Xabi Alonso’s side then self-destructed in defence, as Raul Asencio’s heavy touch was picked off by Ousmane Dembele, before Fabian Ruiz finished into an open net. Antonio Rudiger went one better shortly after when he generously surrendered the ball to Dembele, who ran through on goal and finished.
Ruiz got his second of the game before the half-hour mark, with five PSG touches needed to get the ball from their own 18-yard box to a comfortable finish for the Spain midfielder. It might have been worse by half-time, too, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired wide after a clever shuffle through the Madrid defence.
However, PSG remain explosive. They have been the most convincing team in this FIFA Club World Cup. They remain the only team to concede just a goal in this tournament and they have scored 16 goals. Luis Enrique has worked magic on this team and they just might be lifting another trophy on Sunday.
This ruthless loss was witnessed by family and friends of Real Madrid as Softfootball reported earlier that Real Madrid were bringing in family and friends to see this game.
Player Rating:
Thibaut Courtois (6/10):
Could he really do anything about any of the three goals? Perhaps a bit caught out of position for the first, but otherwise can’t be blamed.
Federico Valverde (6/10):
Outnumbered all afternoon, but did quite well here and there. Madrid could have used his legs in midfield.
Raul Asencio (4/10):
A terrible error started the onslaught, and wasn’t much better after that. The drop off from Dean Huijsen is significant.
Toni Rudiger (4/10):
Uncharacteristically loose, and stripped of the ball leading up to the PSG second.
Fran Garcia (5/10):
Poor guy. Constantly caught in 2v1s due to Mbappe’s aversion to tracking back.
Aurelien Tchouameni (5/10):
Couldn’t do anything at the base of midfield. Overrun and didn’t know who to try to tackle. Got away with a very heavy challenge.
Jude Bellingham (5/10):
Entirely bypassed throughout – save for a nice run or two. Deservedly subbed after an hour.
Arda Guler (5/10):
Never really in it. Doesn’t have the legs to play center mid in a game like this
Vinicius Jr (5/10):
Really struggled on the right. Didn’t know whether to go inside or out, lacking in his final ball, and didn’t do much off ball work.
Gonzalo Garcia (6/10):
A weird one. Good in moments in the center, but was then forced to play on the left to make up for everyone else’s aversion to defending.
Kylian Mbappe (4/10):
What a miserable one against his old team. Offered next to nothing going forward and his defensive work was nonexistent.
Luka Modric (5/10):
Not the Madrid swansong he would have wanted. Hardly touched the ball and caught in a mass of swarming blue.
Eder Militao (5/10):
A good 30 minutes or so. Will be back in contention to start by August, presumably.
Brahim Diaz (5/10):
A few nice touches, but didn’t release the ball quickly enough on a few occasions.
Dani Carvajal (4/10):
Welcome back, Dani. Not be best game to return to. Booked within a couple mins of coming on.
Lucas Vazquez (N/A):
No time to make an impact.
