Two of the world’s most prominent clubs clash in the Club World Cup semifinals as UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain square off against Europe’s most decorated side Real Madrid on Wednesday at MetLife Stadium.
It’s also a meeting of two Ballon d’Or candidates as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele both meet, although neither has started a game at this tournament thanks to minor ailments.
Instead, the two clubs have been propped up by young up-and-coming stars, with UCL final hero Desire Doue and Real Madrid Castilla graduate Gonzalo Garcia carrying the respective attacks.
Both teams will also be dealing with suspensions to key defensive players, as a few brainless moments in the quarterfinals have left them scrambling for this top-tier clash.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides as the match draws nearer.
PSG vs. Real Madrid predicted lineups, team news
PSG will be without young defender Willian Pacho after his red card against Bayern Munich for a dangerous tackle on Leon Goretzka. It’s a big blow for PSG as their high press is backed up by his elite recovery abilities. Lucas Hernandez is also suspended after picking up his own red card in the match.
Star forward Ousmane Dembele returned from a thigh injury with two straight substitute appearances, scoring in the last round against Bayern Munich. He has been superseded by Bradley Barcola up front, but with Dembele returning to form and Barcola not producing, Luis Enrique could return to his regular front line used most of the season.
Otherwise, PSG have their full list of regulars available for action, a boon for the reigning Champions League winners who have steamrolled their competition throughout this season. Yellow card accumulation is wiped as we’ve reached the semifinals.
PSG predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Mendes — Neves, Vitinha, F. Ruiz — Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.
Injured: None.
Suspended: Pacho (red card), L. Hernandez (red card).
Full PSG squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Lucas Lavallee, Matvei Safonov, Arnau Tenas.
Defenders: Lucas Beraldo, Naoufel El Hannach, Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Hernandez, Noham Kamara, Presnel Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Yoram Zague.
Midfielders: Lee Kang-in, Senny Mayulu, Gabriel Moscardo, Joao Neves Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Warren Zaire-Emery.
Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ibrahim Mbaye, Goncalo Ramos.
New defender Dean Huijsen, who has been fantastic at the back for Real Madrid since signing from Bournemouth, saw himself needlessly sent off for a last-man foul in stoppage time against Borussia Dortmund, meaning he is suspended for the PSG game. Raul Asencio or Aurelien Tchouameni or likely to step in at centre-back.
Kylian Mbappe has come off the bench in each of the past two rounds, but has given way to youth product Gonzalo Garcia, who has been brilliant in the France star’s absence, scoring in each of their two knockout games.
Endrick has finally linked up with Real Madrid at the Club World Cup and has begun training after recovering from a hamstring injury, but he was not part of the Round of 16 squad. Raul Asencio is available following his one-game suspension for a red card against Pachuca, but he was an unused substitute against Juventus and may have lost Xabi Alonso’s trust.
Dani Carvajal, Eduardo Camavinga, David Alaba, and Ferland Mendy are still absent with their long-term injuries.
Real Madrid predicted XI (4-4-2, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Asensio, F. Garcia — Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Guler — Vinicius Jr, G. Garcia.
Injured: Endrick (hamstring, doubt), Carvajal (knee), Camavinga (muscle), Mendy (muscle).
Suspended: Huijsen (red card)
Full Real Madrid squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Fran Gonzalez, Andriy Lunin, Sergio Mestre.
Defenders: Diego Aguado, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Dani Carvajal, Jesus Fortea, Fran Garcia, Dean Huijsen, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Jacobo Ramon, Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez, Yusi.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Chema, Arda Guler, Mario Martin, Luka Modric, Victor Munoz, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde.
Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Endrick, Gonzalo Garcia, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior.
PSG vs. Real Madrid score prediction
The absence of William Pacho, maybe the world’s most unheralded young superstar, is a massive loss for PSG. He is a critical component of the team, as their aggressive high press is protected by Pacho’s elite recovery skills. Lucas Beraldo isn’t of remotely the same ilk, meaning PSG may not be able to press nearly as hard.
However, Real Madrid missing Dean Huijsen means that Raul Asencio may have to come back into the side, and he has been mistake-prone this summer, leading to Xabi Alonso phasing him out.
Both coaches are two of the world’s best, and should manage to structure their approach in a way that minimizes the losses, but it’s impossible to completely paper over those defensive cracks. In the end, this should be an outstanding, high-scoring match, and it’s hard to look away from PSG, who are the best team in the world right now.
Prediction: PSG 3-2 Real Madrid
How to watch PSG vs. Real Madrid: Live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Club World Cup semifinal match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Wed, Jul. 9 | 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT | TUDN, UniMas | Fubo, DAZN |
| Canada | Wed, Jul. 9 | 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT | — | DAZN |
| UK | Wed, Jul. 9 | 8 p.m. BST | Channel 5 | DAZN |
| Australia | Thu, Jul. 10 | 7 a.m. AEST | — | DAZN, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now |
| India | Thu, Jul. 10 | 12:30 a.m. IST | — | DAZN, tabii |
