Club World Cup: A 'masterclass' from PSG - but problems for Real Madrid

Paris St-Germain delivered a dominant 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-final, securing their place in the final against Chelsea. This emphatic win follows their 5-0 triumph against Inter Milan in the Champions League final just over five weeks ago, demonstrating their continued formidable form.

PSG took control early, leading 3-0 within the first 24 minutes thanks to a double from Fabian Ruiz and a goal from Ousmane Dembele. Goncalo Ramos added a fourth goal late in the game. Despite a previous setback against Botafogo, PSG has impressively beaten Atletico Madrid (4-0), Real Madrid (4-0), and Bayern Munich (2-0, even with nine men) during the US tournament.

The team's overwhelming pace, passing, and pressing have proven too much for opponents to handle. Pundits reacted strongly to the performance, with Andros Townsend stating "Luis Enrique has created a monster," and Gareth Bale noting PSG looks like a young, relentless team that "want to embarrass teams" and will "be around for a long time."

The article notes a significant shift for PSG: within a year, they have transformed from a team many neutrals disliked in the Champions League to potentially the "best team in the world to watch." This new era under Luis Enrique, moving away from the "old PSG" characterized by egos, was underscored by the fact that figureheads from that previous era were on the losing side of this 4-0 hammering.