PSG Vs Real Madrid, Not Just About Kylian Mbappe's Proof

NEW JERSEY, TUESDAY – Kylian Mbappe is certainly the main focus in the duel between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in the semifinals of the 2025 Club World Cup, Thursday (10/7/2025) at 02:00 WIB, at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. Apart from the Mbappe factor, PSG, under Luis Enrique, aims to assert itself as the best team in Europe by defeating Real.

As the current champion of the Champions League, PSG faces a true challenge from Real, which holds the title of the king of European club competitions with 15 trophies. Eliminating Real to reach the final would solidify "Les Parisiens" as a team increasingly deserving of being called the best during the 2024-2025 season.

After defeating the only hope of the host team, Inter Miami, in the round of 16, and then conquering one of the favorites, Bayern Munich, in the quarter-finals, high confidence surged within the PSG squad. Ousmane Dembele and his teammates are very eager to compete for a ticket to the final against Real.

Bradley Barcola, PSG winger, said the secret of PSG players being able to maintain their performance level after going through a long season with the achievement of treble winner in Europe. The burning spirit of PSG squad is not only because of their status as Champions League champions, Barcola said physically Les Parisiens players are also able to be in the best condition after going through 63 matches.

"We are fortunate to have a coach (Luis Enrique) who understands us and gives us plenty of rest time. We can truly relax in the afternoon (before the match), allowing us to approach each game in a fresh condition," said Barcola as reported by the FIFA website, Tuesday (9/7/2025).

Barcola's statement can be seen from PSG's consistent performance, which scored six goals in two knockout stage matches. PSG is the only team that has not conceded a goal after reaching the decisive phase.

Enrique's team has the opportunity to set a new record for the most wins in a single competitive season. After defeating Bayern, PSG has already accumulated 47 victories in the 2024-2025 season. This number is already equal to the club's highest positive record achieved during the 2015-2016 campaign under Laurent Blanc.

With that, two wins will bring them the 2025 Club World Cup trophy and make history with the most wins. Not only a treble winner, PSG can write themselves as the first team to win the World Club World Cup along with three major trophies in domestic and continental events.

"We have had an extraordinary season, both personally and for the team as a whole. It has been an amazing journey, but we are not satisfied. We are addicted to wanting victory," said Dembele, who has scored 34 goals for PSG.

Dembele will face his friend, Mbappe, directly. Since Mbappe's move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, the role of team leader and goal source for PSG has shifted to Dembele.

The 28-year-old player has delivered the first Champions League trophy that Mbappe failed to secure during six seasons in Paris. In fact, Dembele is now being touted as the strongest candidate for the prestigious individual award, the Ballon d'Or.

"I feel very good. This is the best season of my career," said Dembele.

In addition to welcoming Mbappe as a former teammate, Dembele, along with two other PSG players, Lucas Hernandez and Presnel Kimpembe, also holds the title of 2018 World Cup champion like Mbappe. They were part of the French national team squad that triumphed in Russia seven years ago.

Unfortunately, Hernandez and Kimpembe will not be able to play against Real for different reasons. Hernandez is serving a suspension due to a red card received in the match against Bayern. Meanwhile, Kimpembe is still recovering from an injury.

Meanwhile, Mbappe is gradually returning to his best physical condition after being absent in the group stage of the 2025 Club World Cup due to digestive issues. A decisive goal for "Los Blancos" against Borussia Dortmund marks Mbappe's return.

However, Real coach Xabi Alonso has not yet been able to promise that he will include Mbappe in the starting lineup against PSG. On the other hand, Alonso is increasingly confident in the abilities of Gonzalo Garcia, who has scored four goals in the United States.

"We have to watch Kylian (Mbappe) closely to play him from the start," Alonso was quoted as saying by AS.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, the right-back of Real, also acknowledged that PSG is a very formidable team. He recalled his performance with Liverpool when they were eliminated by PSG in the round of 16 of the Champions League last season.

"We're going to have a very tough game. In the knockout stages, all the teams can beat each other," Alexander-Arnold told DAZN.

Claude Makelele, former player of Real and PSG, acknowledged PSG as the best team at present. However, he reminded that Real possesses the mental resilience to face the knockout stage matches.

"I'm sure PSG will be able to put on a great show, but they have to be careful of Real Madrid. Because Real have the ability to do everything in a single decisive game," Makelele was quoted as saying by Marca.

He did not miss mentioning the potential impact of Mbappe for Real when facing PSG. "PSG will still win the Champions League if Mbappe stays. However, any player would find it impossible to say 'no' if Real Madrid wants you," he added.