It comes to an end on Sunday (13) the first edition of the Club World Cup, anabolized version of the old World Cup, now with 32 participants and the consecrated format in the team dispute. Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford will receive the outcome of a competition that faced climate issues and was growing success after a start of small audiences.
In the field, while suffering from the summer in the United States and dealt with interruptions in the risk of lightning, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain were advancing. They walked very different paths, although both with Brazilian opponents, trajectories that seem to leave no doubt about the favoritism on the French side.
PSG arrived in North America already with four titles in Cycle 2024/25: France Super Cup, French Championship, French Cup and Champions League. The European trophy was raised with a 5-0 massacre over Inter Milan, and Luis Enrique’s team kept the rhythm in the club’s Cup – a starter, it’s true.
The campaign in North America began with a 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid, followed by a flashy stumbling block, a 1-0 loss to Botafogo. Three weeks later, the Brazilian team is in crisis, with new coach, while Luis Enrique tries to take the ultimate step of an overwhelming season.
“It is a goal we have from the beginning, but it is difficult to achieve,” said the coach, referring to the possibility of lifting the fifth cup of the season, in the new and multibilionaire competition of FIFA (International Football Federation). “We will give everything in the final, because it will be difficult for a club to repeat all this in the future,” added midfielder Vitinha.
After the setback against Botafogo-with several usual reserves cast as holders, it is noted-Paris Saint-Germain resumed the way it was showing. In the knockout, he had a protocol rout over the fragile Inter Miami, surpassed the Fort Bayern and destroyed Real Madrid, with a 4-0 that seemed little.
On the other hand, Chelsea went through a small Brazilian championship. In the first phase, he lost 3-1 to Flamengo, which ended up leaving him in the second position of Group D. That way, went to half the switching in which Palmeiras were exceeded 2-1, and Fluminense, defeated 2-0.
The place in the decision was obtained with two beautiful goals by João Pedro, who punished the club in which he was born for football. The 23 -year -old was hired just over a week ago, in a special transfer window authorized by FIFA for World Cup participants, and may already have his name in the history of the London club.
“I think it was a dream start, it couldn’t be better. Two goals. Now, it is having all the concentration in the final. It will be my first chance of a professional title,” said the striker, who was only cast against Fluminense because of the suspension of the starting forward, Liam Delap.
It is likely that the Paulista has taken the position, but Delap is again available to coach Enzo Maresca, as well as defender Levi Colwill, another who served suspension in the semifinals. The right back Reece James and midfielder Moisés Caicedo fight against physical problems in an attempt to be cast.
Luis Enrique, in turn, has almost the entire PSG starting team available to defender Willian Pacho – Suspense until the end of the competition because of his expulsion in the quarterfinals, the same situation as the Lucas Hernández reserve. Brazilian Beraldo must again have the place of Pacho.
Even in physical conditions the French formation seems to be in condition of superiority, in the face of an opponent who has shown tiredness in the second half, with complaints from his coach about the marathon. But there is a final effort for Maresca’s men to seek their second title in the season.
Fourth in the English Championship, Chelsea won the Conference League, a kind of Champions League Series C, hierarchically less than the Champions League and the Europa League. Now it has the opportunity to overthrow the winner of the main European tournament and marked as the owner of the first edition of the Club World Cup.
