FIFA CWC: Mbappe battles former club, PSG for final ticket

UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, PSG meet Real Madrid in an all-European FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) semi-final, with Kylian Mbappé potentially lining up against his former club for the first time since leaving for Spain.
PSG overcame two late red cards to beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the quarter-finals to make it three consecutive CWC wins without conceding – the ideal response to losing their second group game 1-0 to Botafogo. After completing a famous quadruple earlier this season, the Parisians are no strangers to knockout football and haven’t conceded in any of their last four knockout games in all competitions. As each of their last seven competitive fixtures saw only one side on the scoresheet, the first goal in this clash could well prove vital.
Madrid netted first against Borussia Dortmund in their quarter-final and were cruising before a frantic injury-time period saw three goals, Dean Huijsen sent off and Thibaut Courtois making a brilliant save at the death. Losing Huijsen through suspension will complicate matters for Los Blancos, but they won’t lack motivation to continue their unbeaten start under new boss Xabi Alonso as the club has promised a €1 million bonus for every player should they win this competition!.
Across 12 previous meetings, most recently contested in 2021/22, it’s Madrid who slightly edge proceedings with five victories to PSG’s four.