Paris Saint-Germain booked their place in the Club World Cup semi-finals with a dramatic 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in Atlanta, despite finishing the match with only nine men. Goals from Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé secured the win for the French champions in a high-stakes encounter that was not without its moments of controversy and drama.
PSG struck first through Doué, who found the net with a composed finish early on. Dembélé doubled their lead with a brilliant effort, giving his side a comfortable cushion. However, what looked like a routine victory quickly turned tense as discipline began to unravel. Willian Pacho was the first to be shown a red card, followed later by Lucas Hernandez, reducing PSG to nine players with a significant portion of the match still to play.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, PSG defended resolutely and managed to keep Bayern at bay. To make matters worse for the German side, star midfielder Jamal Musiala suffered what appeared to be a serious injury, further hampering their efforts. In the end, PSG’s clinical finishing and gritty defensive display earned them a place in the semi-finals.
Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich, despite ending the match with only nine players on the field. The French side showed resilience and composure under pressure, especially in the latter stages of the match, to overcome both their German opponents and their own disciplinary setbacks.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 78th minute, when young forward Désiré Doué took advantage of a costly error from Bayern. Harry Kane, who had dropped deep into midfield, was dispossessed in the centre circle, allowing PSG to launch a quick counterattack. Doué drove forward and calmly slotted the ball past Manuel Neuer, wrongfooting the veteran goalkeeper with a clever finish to put his side ahead.
However, what should have been a routine closing stretch for PSG quickly turned chaotic. The European champions found themselves in trouble as two of their players were dismissed in quick succession. First, Willian Pacho received a red card, followed not long after by Lucas Hernandez, leaving PSG to defend their lead with just nine men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the French side held firm, and their late second goal sealed a dramatic and hard-earned win over Bayern.
Paris Saint-Germain faced serious disciplinary setbacks late in their Club World Cup quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich, with both Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez sent off in a tense and fiery finish. The first dismissal came after a reckless studs-up tackle by Pacho, which was immediately spotted and dealt with by English referee Anthony Taylor, who had no hesitation in showing a straight red card. The tackle was dangerous and left no room for debate, as it endangered the safety of the opponent.
Just minutes later, in the 92nd minute, PSG were reduced to nine men when Lucas Hernandez was also sent off. In a moment of clear frustration, Hernandez elbowed Bayern’s Raphael Guerreiro directly in the jaw—an act committed right in front of the referee, leaving Taylor with little choice but to brandish another red card. With two players sent off in quick succession, PSG appeared vulnerable heading into the closing minutes.
However, despite being shorthanded, Luis Enrique’s men delivered a brilliant response. In stoppage time, Achraf Hakimi launched a blistering solo run, dancing past three Bayern defenders with incredible speed and control. He then played a perfect pass into the path of substitute Ousmane Dembélé, who made no mistake this time—smashing the ball home with authority after having hit the underside of the bar moments earlier. It was a breathtaking counter-attack and a decisive moment that sealed a remarkable 2-0 victory for PSG, who now march on to the semi-finals.
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Player ratings
PSG Donnarumma (6), Hakimi (6), Marquinhos (7), Pacho (5), Mendes (6), Ruiz (6), Vitinha (7), Neves (7), Kvaratskhelia (7), Doue (7), Barcola (6).
Subs: Dembele (7), Zaire-Emery (6), Hernandez (4), Beraldo (7).
Bayern Munich: Neuer (5), Kimmich (7), Upamecano (6), Tah (4), Laimer (6), Stanisic (6), Musiala (6), Pavlovic (6), Kane (5), Coman (6), Olise (7).
Subs: Boey (6), Gnabry (6), Muller (6), Goretzka (6), Guerreiro (n/a).
Player of the match: Desire Doue
Bayern Munich endured a deeply frustrating afternoon in Atlanta, one made even worse by a serious injury to star midfielder Jamal Musiala. The German international was forced off in the first half following a heavy and unfortunate collision with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. As the Italian came off his line to claim the ball, he unintentionally crashed into Musiala, striking his leg with considerable force. The impact resulted in a distressing and immediate injury, later confirmed to be a fractured fibula.
The reaction on the pitch was telling. Players from both teams quickly gathered around the fallen midfielder, many visibly shaken by the severity of the injury. Some looked on in concern, while others signaled urgently for medical assistance. The match was paused for several minutes as Musiala received treatment before being stretchered off the field in clear pain.
This injury could not have come at a worse time for both Bayern Munich and the German national team. Musiala has been one of Bayern’s standout performers in recent seasons, and his absence will be keenly felt as the Bundesliga season continues. Moreover, with the FIFA World Cup scheduled to take place in the United States next summer, the timing casts doubt over his availability for Germany on the international stage. His creativity, vision, and composure on the ball have made him a central figure for club and country, and the possibility of him missing such a major tournament is a bitter blow.
Overall, the incident overshadowed much of the action on the pitch, serving as a harsh reminder of the physical risks players face in high-level competition.
Paris Saint-Germain’s campaign in North America is far from finished, as they continue to chase more silverware following their historic Champions League triumph in Munich. While their 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich secured them a place in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, the road ahead remains challenging. One immediate concern for head coach Luis Enrique will be the suspension of Willian Pacho, whose red card rules him out of the crucial semi-final clash. His absence could prove significant, particularly against top-tier opposition like Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund—two European giants who could present a serious threat to PSG’s ambitions.
Nonetheless, the Parisian side has shown resilience and quality throughout the tournament, suggesting they remain strong contenders for the Club World Cup crown. With talents like Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Achraf Hakimi in form, PSG has the firepower and experience to go all the way. Their dream of following up their Champions League glory with global dominance remains very much alive.
