I watched PSG destroy Real Madrid on Wed at the SF of the FIFA Club World Cup.

This was no one team having a good night and the other an off game. Real were out to claim ‘their’ rightful place as the number one football team in the world. All they had to do was turn up and play there dominant game. PSG and Luis Enrique however wasn’t prepared to be the bit part of the RM script. PSG outplayed RM in just about every position. The speed, collective and individual skill and no little willingness to ‘stand up’ to the physical challenge impressed me.

Having thumped Inter Milan 5-0 in style at the ‘real’ club competition (Europe champion league) after knocking out Liverpool, Aston Villa & Arsenal my interest was raised.

Ok the USA club competition is a bit gimmicky and money driven, however you could see it meant a lot to the teams and players participating (especially the none European clubs).

PSG have seen off Atletico Madrid, Miami and Bayern prior to the Real SF (well done Botafogo)!

OK PSG are a pile of a rich man’s players, something that doesn’t sit well with me. That said I cannot deny I simply love watching this team play. I was fortunate enough as young teenager to watch/see live on tv the Brazil team of 1970 win the World Cup.

For me (and I don’t say this lightly) PSG has come the closest thing I have seen that compares to that level. They have set the new benchmark IMO and it will be interesting to see them next season as they become the team everyone will want to knock off their pedestal.

PS -Also a test of the system since Scotty’s upgrade.

bc

Edited July 10, 2025Jul 10 by big cherly

What do I know. 3-0 well done Chelsea. Pressed hard at PSG from the start and never let off through the first half. Did to PSG that PSG did to RM.

The unpredictability is for me, what makes football the most exciting of all games.

Still believe PSG play some of the best football irrespective of the defeat to Chelsea.

bc

Edited July 14, 2025Jul 14 by big cherly

@big cherly We’ll be in Madreed on Oct 5th so going to see Real v Villarreal. Was hoping Atletico would be at home as we’ve been at the Bernabeu before, and saw CR7 score 4 goals. Still some fantastic players though.

Edited August 9, 2025Aug 9 by The Mantis

30th May 2026.

PSG 1 Arsenal 1. PSG win on penalties. Skill and ability prevails over brawn and procedure. A victory for football.

The greatest game still on the planet.

I rest my case.

bc

Dull and pretty uneventful. PSG deserved to edge it but created hardly anything and looked nothing special in this showpiece match.

7 hours ago, Yngwie said:

Dull and pretty uneventful. PSG deserved to edge it but created hardly anything and looked nothing special in this showpiece match.

I saw only the second half, but Arsenal were way to passive, did they spend most of the first half defending to? Only very late on did they take the game to PSG. Hard to say that PSG didn't deserve to win

11 hours ago, Yngwie said:

Dull and pretty uneventful. PSG deserved to edge it but created hardly anything and looked nothing special in this showpiece match.

Yes well everyone to their own opinion. I only seen one team that was creative and looking to take the game head on by attacking. Especially in the second half PSG were fully encamped in the Arsenal half of the pitch. Baring two defensive last minute challenges the score would have been 3-1 for PSG.

Arsenal’s few attack ventures were humps up the park mostly by their goalie (there best man IMO). I would have happy praised Arsenal if I saw attacking guile but for me there game is based on not getting beat; that is Dull and pretty uneventful, however beauty is in the eye of the beholder,

bc

Edited Sunday at 10:39 AM4 days by big cherly

Arsenal missed the target with 2 of their 5 penalties yet still had 3 times as many shots on target during the shoot-out than in the 120 minutes preceding it.