Who: Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
What: 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final
The place: Metlife Stadium, New Jersey, United States
When: Sunday, July 12, at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT)
Methods to comply with: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from midday ET (16:00 GMT) upfront of our dwell textual content commentary stream.
Contemporary from their first European crown, Paris Saint-Germain go searching for essentially the most profitable prize in membership soccer as they face Chelsea within the ultimate of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (CWC).
FIFA, soccer’s world governing physique, has pulled out all of the stops to current this event as essentially the most prestigious trophy within the membership recreation.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a have a look at a match that would high a stellar season for the Parisians or may kick-start the reboot of one of many groups that had beforehand sought world domination, Chelsea.
How did PSG attain the CWC ultimate?
Following their 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan within the UEFA Champions League ultimate, the Parisians pulled off one other nice achievement by beating the file Membership World Cup and European Cup winners Actual Madrid 4-0 in the semifinals of this yr’s version.
Fabian Ruiz scored on both aspect of an Ousmane Dembele strike to set PSG on their manner within the first half, earlier than Goncalo Ramos rounded issues off with three minutes remaining of regular time.
PSG had already overcome Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Bayern Munich within the knockout phases, whereas topping their group following wins in opposition to Atletico Madrid and Seattle Sounders, and a defeat by Botafogo.
How did Chelsea attain the CWC ultimate?
The Blues overcame Brazilian opposition within the final two rounds, beating Fluminense 2-0 within the semifinal and Palmeiras 2-1 within the quarters.
The spherical of 16 supplied a a lot stiffer take a look at with Benfica, after a two-hour lightning delay, coming again onto the sector with 4 minutes remaining of regular time and levelling the match via Angel di Maria’s penalty.
Reece James had given the Blues the lead within the sixty fourth minute from a freekick, however Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor added to Chelsea’s tally in further time to seal a 4-1 win.
Wins in opposition to Los Angeles and ES Tunis straddled a defeat by Flamengo within the group stage.
What occurred the final time PSG met Chelsea?
The Parisians claimed a 2-1 win in London in March 2016. Adrien Rabiot and Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted earlier than and after Diego Costa’s strike for the Blues.
It capped a 4-2 mixture win within the knockout phases of that season’s UEFA Champions League.
What the managers stated
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea head coach: “It’s a nice achievement. It has been a implausible season – high 4 within the Premier League, Convention League and now within the ultimate of this competitors. We’re so, so blissful. We go recreation by recreation. Lastly, now we have the final recreation of the season and hopefully, we are able to win the event.”
Luis Enrique, head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, spoke about his aspect’s quest so as to add to the European crown and home double they sealed final season. “We’re in a particular season, a particular second, and now we have yet another step in opposition to an excellent workforce like Chelsea,” Enrique stated. “Now it’s time to arrange. We need to make historical past for our membership.”
Head-to-head
That is the ninth assembly between the edges with PSG claiming victory on three events, whereas Chelsea have received twice and there have been three attracts.
The primary encounter got here within the Champions League group stage in September 2004. The Blues received 3-0 in Paris, with the return fixture leading to a 0-0 draw.
The Londoners haven’t received within the final 4 conferences, with PSG successful twice in that point.
PSG workforce information
Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez are each as soon as once more suspended, having each been proven straight reds within the quarterfinal win in opposition to Bayern.
Ousmane Dembele returned from a knock to face Actual within the semis and managed the primary hour of the sport. The French ahead is anticipated to be match to start out as soon as once more within the ultimate.
Chelsea workforce information
The Blues could have numerous choice dilemmas heading into the ultimate.
Central defender Levi Colwill and striker Liam Delap are each obtainable, having each served one-game bans for choosing up their second yellow playing cards of the event within the quarterfinals.
Reece James was solely match sufficient to make the bench within the semifinals however is pushing to be match for a beginning return. Moises Caicedo sustained an ankle harm late within the last-four win in opposition to Fluminense and is a doubt for the match with PSG.
Predicted PSG beginning lineup
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.
Predicted Chelsea beginning lineup
Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez, Nkunku; Palmer, Neto; Joao Pedro.
