Club World Cup Semis: PSG, Madrid, Chelsea, Flu

Club World Cup anticipation peaks this week as four contrasting giants chase a spot in Friday’s showpiece.

PSG vs Real Madrid: Heavyweight chess match

Paris Saint-Germain arrive in Saudi Arabia purring, unbeaten in 17 and finally balanced under Luis Enrique. Yet Real Madrid’s recent rebuild still contains that old tournament DNA; Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham give Los Blancos a puncher’s chance. If Madrid absorb early pressure and Luka Modrić dictates tempo, an “upset” suddenly feels less far-fetched.

Club World Cup spotlight on Chelsea

Across the bracket, deep-pocketed Chelsea meet romantic outsiders Fluminense. The Blues’ lavish squad is youthful, quick and, crucially, rested. Mauricio Pochettino will lean on Raheem Sterling’s form and Enzo Fernández’s range to unpick the Brazilian champions, but Flu’s 39-year-old metronome Marcelo and hotshot Jhon Arias won’t surrender territory easily.

Key storylines to watch

• Can Kylian Mbappé stretch a Madrid back line missing Éder Militão?
• Will Thiago Silva roll back the years against his boyhood club?
• Could a Chelsea-PSG final reignite 2010s rivalry narratives?

X-factor players

Mbappé’s acceleration, Bellingham’s late runs, Fernández’s diagonals and Germán Cano’s instinct all have power to tilt momentum within seconds.

Prediction corner

Expect PSG’s control and Chelsea’s depth to prevail, setting up a blockbuster European final, though few would be shocked if Madrid gate-crash proceedings—again.

Opinion

This tournament often rewards coherence over star names; if Madrid survive PSG’s press, their mystique could yet conjure another trophy, reminding us that money and models may change, but pedigree never fades.