Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup journey in emphatic fashion, dismantling Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Rose Bowl in California to underline their championship ambitions.
The European champions dominated proceedings from start to finish, dictating play under the sweltering heat while exploiting a sluggish Atletico side.
Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box. Just before halftime, Vitinha doubled the advantage following a lightning-fast counterattack.
Atletico’s best opportunity came from Antoine Griezmann, but Gianluigi Donnarumma easily gathered his weak shot.
In the second half, PSG maintained their control, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia pulling the creative strings. The Georgian winger struck the crossbar and provided two assists in a standout display.
While Julian Alvarez saw a goal disallowed for a foul, youngster Senny Mayulu extended the lead, capitalizing on a chaotic sequence in Atletico’s box.
The Spanish side’s misery worsened when Clément Lenglet received a red card for dissent. PSG sealed the rout in stoppage time as Lee Kang-in slotted home a penalty after a Robin Le Normand handball.
It was a humbling night for Diego Simeone’s men, who failed to threaten the French giants throughout the encounter.
