PSG turns Club World Cup showdown with Inter Miami into a beatdown, eliminates Lionel Messi
GOOOOAL! Brilliant set piece by Vitinha and Neves gives @PSG_English the lead!
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The much-hyped Club World Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami was less a contest than a clinical dissection, as the French giants dismantled their MLS opponents 4-0 in a performance that laid bare the stark realities of modern football’s hierarchy.
From the opening whistle at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, PSG executed a tactical masterclass, suffocating Miami with a relentless high press that reduced Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez to frustrated spectators. The statistics painted a brutal picture: Miami managed just three attacking-third passes in the first half compared to PSG’s four goals, while failing to register a single shot before halftime.
Tactical Demolition
Achraf Hakimi’s marauding runs from fullback typified PSG’s dominance, the Moroccan international intercepting goal kicks from Miami’s Oscar Ustari as if playing against academy players. In midfield, the French side’s athleticism overwhelmed Miami’s young talents, with Telasco Segovia and Federico Redondo repeatedly caught out of position.
Even Messi’s fleeting moment of brilliance – a sublime lofted pass to Suárez in the 22nd minute – served only to highlight the gulf in quality when the Uruguayan’s heavy touch wasted the opportunity. For large stretches, the legendary duo appeared every bit their 36 and 37 years respectively, struggling to influence proceedings against opponents a full step faster in thought and deed.
Post-Match Reality Check
“We saw the difference between the teams,” admitted Miami coach Javier Mascherano. “They’re probably the best team in the world right now.” The Argentine’s generous assessment couldn’t mask the uncomfortable truth: this was European football’s cutting edge against MLS’s aging stars and developmental projects, with the chasm in quality laid bare under the global spotlight.
While falling short of Bayern Munich’s infamous 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City in 2013, PSG’s victory served as another reminder of the challenges facing FIFA’s global club competition ambitions. For all the pre-tournament hype surrounding Miami’s celebrity signings, this was football’s new money proving decisively superior to its aging legends.