Paris Saint-Germain's Brutal Side Returns

LOS ANGELES, MONDAY — Paris Saint-Germain passed their first and toughest test in the group stage of the Club World Cup with a resounding 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles, United States, on Monday (16/6/2025) early morning WIB. This match showcased the fierce side of PSG, who have often won by large margins in their last three matches.

Atletico can be considered the most formidable opponent for PSG in the Group B qualifying phase. The other two teams in Group B, Botafogo and Seattle Sounders, possess a quality below that of the European Champions. Facing Atletico, which has the potential to be a stumbling block, PSG encountered relatively no difficulties, thus achieving a perfect score in the opening match.

PSG showcased a style of play characterized by determination and relentless rotation that led them to win the Champions League. Midfielder Fabian Ruiz scored the opening goal for PSG in the 19th minute with a powerful low shot from distance.

Vitinha then doubled PSG's lead in stoppage time of the first half. In the second half, PSG solidified their advantage through Senny Mayulu in the 87th minute. Shortly thereafter, Lee Kang-in scored the fourth goal via a penalty kick.

This is the third consecutive time that PSG has concluded a match with a striking scoreline. Previously, the team coached by Luis Enrique defeated Stade de Reims, 3-0, in the French Cup final. PSG's ruthless side became evident when they demolished Inter Milan, 5-0, in the Champions League final.

This time, PSG's ruthless nature has not diminished; instead, it has intensified following a decisive victory over Atletico. Three consecutive wins with significant scores have resulted in PSG scoring 12 goals without conceding any.

"An excellent performance. As usual, I will talk about the team. We played very well. It was not easy, difficult with the temperature (heat) like this. We played well against a very good team. Everyone knows Atletico is a tough team, an aggressive team. We managed to control the entire game," said Vitinha.

Despite not being reinforced by the injured forward Ousmane Dembele, PSG's attacks remained dangerous. When the forwards encountered difficulties in scoring, PSG's midfielders emerged as heroes. Wing forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia played a more significant role this time as a space creator and provider of quality passes.

The player with a Georgian passport contributed to two goals for PSG in the first half. He should have also scored but was thwarted by goalkeeper Jan Oblak and the crossbar. PSG's first goal was created thanks to Kvaratskhelia's intelligence. He was able to penetrate into Atletico's penalty area, then received the ball with his body facing away from the goal and cleverly passed it to Ruiz.

Both assists were created in the final phase of a counterattack that unfolded like lightning. Kvaratskhelia sprinted down the left side before passing it to Vitinha.

Kvaratskhelia's movement in this match demonstrated how he seemed to be engulfed by a hunger and thirst for the ball. He was difficult to stop when in possession of the ball and was not hesitant to run and press when he lost it.

On the other hand, the Atletico players did not respond quickly even though they were already two goals down in the first half. The hot temperature also affected their stamina as the match started at noon at 12:00 local time.

Instead of continuously pressing and chasing the ball, the Atletico players quickly became fatigued playing in the scorching afternoon heat. At one moment, Atletico's left-back Javi Galan, who rarely advanced to support the attack, lost the ball in PSG's defensive area. He did not immediately run to reclaim the ball but merely stood there looking dazed.

Enrique even had to appear in shorts and a thin shirt due to the scorching temperature. Such a sight is quite rare considering that coaches in Europe typically wear complete suits, or at the very least do not wear shorts while accompanying their teams. Due to the intense heat, the referee had to allow the players to take cooling breaks at the edge of the field.

"I am happy (with this result). I feel we are competing at the same level as before. Even with the heat and temperature like this. You have to cope with (the heat) because this is the best time for European countries, but it is difficult to play in such conditions," said Enrique.

Thanks to three points from Atletico, PSG now leads Group B. "Les Parisiens" are increasingly on track to advance to the knockout stage as they will face Botafogo, followed by Seattle Sounders, who have a squad of players below that of Atletico in the next match. (AFP)