Paris St-Germain have overcome one of their most difficult challenges at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 so far. Despite the two red cards they received, PSG still won 2-0 against Bayern Munich and reached the semi-finals.
If the knockout round takes place in a slightly different way, this could be the final at MetLife Stadium in New York on July 13. PSG and Bayern are considered two of the strongest clubs in Europe at the moment.
Before the match, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said the two teams would fight with all their might. PSG captain Luis Enrique also agreed but later emphasized that the main principle that the French team needs to succeed is their adaptability.
"There is no miracle formula. It's not just a game. That is the difficulty in today's football. All the coaches are prepared, the players are physically and mentally stronger than ever. Therefore, you have to adapt and adapt.
What we have done this season is no longer valid for next season. We have to change. We have to improve," said Enrique.
And those predictions of Enrique were right. Each head of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium witnessed the opportunity to attack and spectacular saving phase of the goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Donnarumma. By the 12th minute, PSG and Bayern Munich all own 42% of the ball control with 16% of the dispute time.
But the balanced game had a turning point right before the break. In the final effort of the first 45 minutes, Jamal Musiala won the ball on the right side of PSG's penalty area, forcing goalkeeper Donnarumma to rush out quickly. After that, the two collided terriblely. Referee Anthony Taylor blew the whistle to end the half when Musiala needed to be pulled out due to a serious injury.
"Musiala was unfortunately overtaken by Donnarumma. Injuries in top-level sports. There are no bad intentions. We are not a violent club or a bad team," Enrique said after the match.
Without one of his most important stars, Kompany was forced to rethink. And in fact, the "Gray Tigers" played better in the second half.
The match became more tense every minute. The screams echoed throughout the Mercedes-Benz stadium every time Donnarumma appeared on screen. Meanwhile, PSG fans backed their players by applauding for all their efforts.
After a series of missed opportunities, Desire Doue scored for PSG in the 78th minute. Joao Neves collaborated with Doue before the young French star fired a dangerous shot that defeated Neuer.
PSG not only scored, but also scored at a time when Bayern were at their most excited. The first 45 minutes were completely different from the next 45 minutes. Any pre-determined plan must be changed. PSG are starting to shift direction to take advantage of the rare gaps on the pitch. Adaptation became the focus, and the ability to read perfectly helped Doue break the deadlock.
But the game only became more difficult for PSG afterwards, with a red card given to Willian Pacho in the 82nd minute. Playing with one more player, Bayern attacked in a row. Harry Kane had a beautiful header into the net before VAR determined it was an offside situation.
Enrique made two substitutions to overcome the disadvantage of the number of players, bringing defender Lucas Beraldo onto the field to replace striker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
In the 92nd minute, another red card from PSG for Lucas Hernandez left them with only 9 players. With a fragile lead, everything is possible and PSG must adapt once again.
Defender Achraf Hakimi showed another important aspect of Enrique's coaching style: freedom. Despite having just nine players on the pitch, the defender continued up to the final third of the pitch, squeezing through the midfield before assisting Ousmane Dembele to score the decisive goal.
After a chaotic match, PSG advanced to the semi-finals by eliminating one of their most popular teams.
"We are still trying to catch up. The players fought resiliently and I felt that the second half was when we started to dominate. It felt like a goal could come at any time.
Therefore, we try to find strength from adversity. Do it for Jamal. But honestly, what kept me bleeding while sitting here was not the result. I understand it's football. But it happened to a football player like Jamal, who is extremely important to us, that is something I cannot swallow up" - Kompany said.
