Paris Saint-Germain booked their place in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup with a commanding 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in a dramatic quarter-final showdown on Saturday.
Goals from Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé sealed the win for the French champions, who finished the game with nine men after Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez were both sent off late in the contest held in Atlanta.
Despite being reduced in number, PSG held off a determined Bayern side in what proved to be one of the most intense matches of the tournament so far. The Bundesliga titleholders suffered a major setback just before the break when Jamal Musiala was forced off with a serious ankle injury.
Before Saturday’s encounter, Bayern had dominated recent meetings between the two European heavyweights, winning the last four—including a narrow 1-0 victory in the Champions League last November. However, Luis Enrique’s side produced a clinical display to turn the tide in their favour.
An emotional moment preceded the game as both teams and nearly 67,000 fans at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium observed a minute’s silence in memory of Liverpool striker Diogo Jota’s brother, Andre Silva, who tragically lost his life in a car accident days earlier. The tribute held particular meaning for PSG, whose squad features several Portuguese players, including starters Vitinha, João Neves, and Nuno Mendes.
Dembélé, considered one of the frontrunners for the Ballon d’Or, started the game on the bench due to a recent quadriceps issue, while Bayern’s Musiala recovered from a calf injury in time to start.
The match lived up to expectations as a clash of titans, with Bayern coach Vincent Kompany describing it ahead of time as a “perfect storm” of two sides known for their high-tempo, pressing style of football.
Inside the climate-controlled Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the game quickly turned into a thrilling contest. Doué nearly opened the scoring early on, narrowly missing the target, while Donnarumma was tested by Michael Olise’s low strike.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hit the side netting following a swift PSG counterattack, before Donnarumma once again denied Olise with a diving save. The Italian goalkeeper was also sharp in reacting to a dangerous cross from Aleksandar Pavlović that nearly crept in at the near post.
Just before halftime, Dayot Upamecano thought he had given Bayern the lead with a header from an Olise free-kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside. England captain Harry Kane also went close with a header, narrowly missing the target after a clever setup from Kingsley Coman.
In the second half, PSG seized control. Doué found the breakthrough with a composed finish, putting the French side ahead and energizing their supporters. Later, Dembélé, coming off the bench, added a second to all but seal the result, showcasing his trademark speed and precision.
Despite going down to nine men in the closing minutes, PSG’s disciplined defensive effort ensured Bayern had little room to launch a comeback.
With this victory, PSG advance to the semi-finals of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, while Bayern Munich’s campaign comes to a disappointing end.