Real Madrid’s hopes at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup ended in the semi-finals after a heavy 0-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on July 9. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois gave a blunt assessment after the game, admitting his side were far from their best.
“We were a little weak today. In other matches, we played much better. And, of course, we still have some work to do,” Courtois told RMC Sport. The result eliminated Madrid, while PSG advanced to the final, where they will meet Chelsea on July 13.
From the opening whistle at the Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California), PSG pressed aggressively and denied Madrid time to build. Pressing: PSG’s front three of Mbappé, Dembélé, and Gonçalo Ramos cut passing lanes to Bellingham and Valverde, forcing long balls that Ramos and Marquinhos dealt with easily. Transitions: Every Madrid turnover was punished with pace. Mbappé repeatedly targeted the space behind Dani Carvajal. Wide overloads: Hakimi and Mendes pushed high, pinning Vinícius and Rodrygo deeper than usual, limiting Madrid’s counter-attacking threat. Madrid finished the match with only 38% possession, their lowest in the tournament. PSG produced 16 shots (9 on target) compared to Madrid’s 6 (2 on target).12’ Mbappé 1–0 PSG – A quick combination between Vitinha and Hakimi released Mbappé, who cut inside Rüdiger and beat Courtois low to the corner.
31’ Vitinha 2–0 PSG – The Portuguese midfielder struck from 25 yards after Madrid failed to clear, doubling the lead. 56’ Hakimi 3–0 PSG – The Moroccan full-back surged forward on the overlap, collected Mbappé’s pass, and smashed past Courtois. 79’ Dembélé 4–0 PSG – Ousmane Dembélé sealed the rout, dribbling through a tired Madrid defense before finishing from close range.Despite conceding four, Courtois prevented further damage with several key saves. He stopped: A one-on-one with Mbappé in the 22nd minute. A close-range effort from Ramos early in the second half. A curling shot from Dembélé in stoppage time.
Without Courtois, the scoreline could have been heavier. His comments after the match reflected both frustration and realism: Madrid were second-best in every department. Individual AssessmentsThibaut Courtois – Madrid’s best player, despite conceding four. Prevented an even larger defeat. Antonio Rüdiger – Struggled against Mbappé’s pace, caught out of position multiple times. Jude Bellingham – Isolated, unable to progress the ball under PSG’s pressure. Vinícius Júnior – Limited to just two dribbles in advanced zones, constantly tracked by Hakimi. Kylian Mbappé – The standout. 1 goal, 1 assist, constant threat behind Madrid’s line.
Achraf Hakimi – Dominated his flank, scored, and neutralized Vinícius.Coach Xabi Alonso set Madrid up in a 4-3-3, relying on midfield rotations and wide progression. PSG dismantled this plan: Midfield Press – By marking Kroos’ replacement and Valverde tightly, PSG denied Madrid’s build-up. Isolating Bellingham – Alonso’s key attacking connector touched the ball just 27 times in the first half, far below his season average. Neutralizing Vinícius – Hakimi and Marquinhos doubled him immediately, cutting supply. Set-piece weakness – Madrid lost three aerial duels in their box, leading to second-ball chances like Vitinha’s goal. Alonso admitted post-match that Madrid “lacked compactness.” For a coach building his first Madrid season, this was a harsh lesson.
The 4-0 loss ends Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign, leaving them to refocus on La Liga and the Champions League. Key takeaways: Defensive adjustments are urgent: Rüdiger and Militão looked exposed against speed. Squad balance remains an issue: reliance on Vinícius and Mbappé for goals is risky. Midfield control must improve: without Kroos (retired), Alonso is still searching for stability. For fans, the defeat revives concerns about whether this Madrid side is ready to dominate globally, or still in transition.PSG will face Chelsea on July 13 in the final.
PSG strengths: Mbappé’s pace, Hakimi’s overlaps, and midfield pressing. Chelsea strengths: Compact defense, counterattacks led by Enzo Fernández and Nicolas Jackson. The clash offers PSG a chance at their first-ever Club World Cup title, while Chelsea look to add another global trophy after their 2021 triumph.Thibaut Courtois summed up the semi-final defeat in one word: weak. Real Madrid were outpaced, outplayed, and out-thought by PSG, exiting the tournament with one of their heaviest international defeats in recent years.
