Just days away from the eagerly awaited Club World Cup semifinals, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are fine-tuning the final details for their duel at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, scheduled for Wednesday, July 9.
While PSG are already in town, Real Madrid took the opportunity to take a break on Sunday, July 6, after a demanding quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund.
Rest day for Madrid
🆕 DIARIES 🆕
👊 TO THE SEMIFINALS OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP!
📺 FULL VIDEO 👉 RM Play– Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) July 6, 2025
Following their 3-2 victory over Dortmund on Saturday in New Jersey, Real Madrid returned to their base in Palm Beach, Florida, where they have been concentrated since the start of the tournament.
Coach Xabi Alonso gave Sunday off to his players, who will return to training on Monday, July 7.
The team made a good impression with its tactical display, although the physical exhaustion was evident in the second half of the game.
The first half was clearly dominated by the Merengue side, with Alonso’s tactical approach standing out, as he abandoned the three central defenders and moved Aurélien Tchouaméni, a key figure in midfield, forward.
The young Arda Güler shone with vision and precise partnerships, while striker Gonzalo García, a revelation of the youth team, scored his fourth goal of the tournament.
Fran García also stood out, consolidating his position as a starter due to Ferland Mendy’s injury.
The defender showed defensive solidity and offensive projection, playing one of his best games since his return to the club.
PSG is already in New York
Parisians are in New York ! 🗽
Commente avec ta franchise new-yorkaise de sport préférée ! 🏀⚽️ 🥅 🏈 ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/XqqYpjLGnZy
– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) July 7, 2025
Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, arrived in New York on Sunday, July 6, after beating Bayern Munich 2-0 in Atlanta.
Under coach Luis Enrique, the reigning European champions trained in the morning in the Georgian city before moving to the north of the country in the afternoon to settle in for the semi-finals.
Wednesday’s clash will be a special one: Kylian Mbappé will face his former team, PSG, for the first time since his arrival at Real Madrid.
Although the Frenchman is not yet back to his best, he is expected to play against the club where he made his worldwide reputation.
Moments of emotion and warning
The quarterfinal match was also marked by personal emotions.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, still affected by the death of his friend Diogo Jota, played through tears and assisted a goal from his right-back position.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, as usual, was decisive in the final minutes.
A save by him prevented an equalizer in stoppage time, after defensive errors cut the lead.
Dean Huijsen’s dismissal leaves Xabi Alonso without an important player against a PSG team that presses high.
What is at stake
Buzzy
The MetLife Stadium will witness the clash between the reigning Champions League champions and a renewed Real Madrid, led by young talents and consolidated in its new phase with Xabi Alonso.
The winner will face the winner of the other semi-final between Manchester City and Palmeiras.
The Hispanic community in the U.S., especially in New York and New Jersey, is excited about this duel of European giants that will mark the pulse of world soccer in this historic edition of the 2025 Club World Cup.
El Real Madrid dejó buenas sensaciones por su despliegue táctico, aunque el desgaste físico quedó en evidencia en su último encuentro
