Group B is shaping up to be all about PSG and Atletico, who are heavy favorites to advance past Botafogo and Seattle Sounders. But with only one team guaranteed to take all three points on Sunday, one or both will have to settle for a slower start.
This will be the first appearance at the Club World Cup for both sides. PSG were already set to appear in the tournament’s older format after their Champions League triumph in May. Instead, they’ll now also feature in December’s revamped Intercontinental Cup—essentially the new version of the old Club World Cup—which coach Luis Enrique won back in 2015.
But this summer’s expanded Club World Cup is a much bigger test: seven matches stand between the winner and the title. PSG, however, are arguably the team to beat.
They just wrapped up a near-perfect season. Enrique’s men dominated Ligue 1, finishing 19 points clear at the top, added another Coupe de France to their collection, and crushed Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final—a record-breaking scoreline for that stage.
That win brought their season goal tally to a staggering 152. They’ve been thrilling to watch, even if their defense has looked shaky at times—just three clean sheets in their last 12 outings.
Their vulnerability at the back was on display when they met Atletico during the Champions League group stage. Despite PSG’s dominance in possession and chances, Atletico snatched a dramatic 1-0 win in Paris thanks to Angel Correa’s 93rd-minute goal. On that night, Diego Simeone’s side managed just four shots and held less than 30% possession but walked away with all three points.
Since then, the two teams have taken very different paths. While PSG powered through the rest of the season, Atletico’s campaign fizzled. They finished a distant third in La Liga and made early exits from both the Champions League and Copa del Rey. Still, they did end the season on a bit of a high note, winning six of their last nine and scoring 19 goals in their final five victories—though by then, they had little left to play for.
Although it’s their first Club World Cup appearance, Atletico do have a taste of global competition. Back in 1974, they played in the Intercontinental Cup as European Cup runners-up after Bayern Munich declined the invitation. Atletico won that title, beating Independiente 2-1 over two legs.
Sunday’s clash should be an exciting litmus test for both sides—one riding a wave of success, the other hoping to prove they're still a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Both Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid head into Sunday's match with strong squads and few surprises in their lineups. Injuries are minimal, and both managers will be pleased to have most of their key players available.
For PSG, the only major concern is Ousmane Dembélé, who pulled out of France duty following their UEFA Nations League semi-final loss last week. He's unlikely to feature in the opener. Meanwhile, Bradley Barcola, who picked up a minor knock during the same international break, is expected to be fit in time.
Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos will be pushing for a starting spot to fill in for Dembélé, but one player who’s now guaranteed a place is Désiré Doué. The young midfielder starred in the Champions League final, becoming the first ever to contribute to three goals in that game—an unforgettable performance that’s cemented his place in the XI.
As for Atletico Madrid, they're close to full strength. Star goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who missed their final La Liga match of the season, returned to action for Slovenia last week in a win over Bosnia-Herzegovina and has since rejoined the squad.
Manager Diego Simeone had a number of players on international duty recently, including five representing Argentina. Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo De Paul, and Julián Álvarez all started both games for the national team, showing good form ahead of the tournament.
Striker Alexander Sørloth is also coming in hot. He scored against Italy for Norway and helped secure a win over Estonia. Just before the break, he came off the bench to score a hat trick in Atletico’s final league match. Still, despite his recent heroics, he’s likely to start this one on the bench.
All in all, both teams are looking sharp and well-stocked for what promises to be a thrilling opening clash.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Goncalo Ramos, Kvaratskhelia
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Molina, Le Normand, Gimenez, Javi Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Koke, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez
EXPERT PREDICTION
PSG 2-1 Atletico Madrid
