June 15, (THEWILL) – Paris Saint-Germain opened their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Atlético Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The French champions, fresh from their UEFA Champions League triumph just two weeks prior, showed their European pedigree against Diego Simeone’s side in what proved to be a one-sided affair from the opening minutes.
Fabián Ruiz broke the deadlock after 19 minutes when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s intelligent movement drew four Atlético defenders, creating space for the Spanish midfielder to strike home from the edge of the penalty area. Vitinha doubled the advantage just before half-time with a composed finish from 15 yards, capitalising on PSG’s swift transition play that left Jan Oblak exposed in the Atlético goal.
The Spanish side’s hopes of a second-half comeback were dashed when Julián Álvarez’s 58th-minute strike was ruled out for a foul by Koke in the build-up. Their task became even more difficult when Clément Lenglet received his second yellow card in the 77th minute, reducing Simeone’s team to 10 men during a crucial period of the match.
Senny Mayulu exploited Atlético’s numerical disadvantage to net PSG’s third goal, before Lee Kang-in completed the rout from the penalty spot during stoppage time. The victory represents a significant turnaround from November’s encounter when Atlético had defeated the Parisians 2-1, though PSG’s current form suggests they have evolved considerably since that meeting.
The result places PSG in an excellent position to advance from the group stage of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup format. With their attacking fluidity intact despite Ousmane Dembélé’s absence through injury, the French giants appear well-equipped to challenge for the inaugural edition of FIFA’s premier club competition in the United States.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
