Chelsea and PSG will face off in the decider for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup crown as Enzo Maresca must crack the Luis Enrique tactical code.
Chelsea made it to the grand final of the FIFA Club World Cup against PSG following a combative win over Brazilian side Fluminense. There are many suggestions that the Blues probably got a more favourable draw compared to the other finalists, but it is not their fault that some of the games fell favourably on their lap.
Chelsea redeemed themselves when it comes to playing a Brazilian side, following their heavy loss to Flamengo in the group stages. New signing Joao Pedro, making his first start since joining midway through the Club World Cup campaign, scored a stellar brace to assert his quality on the field and take Chelsea into the Final.
While some fans were busy analysing tactics and match statistics, others drew curious parallels with how some athletes hire experts—much like a ghostwriter doktorarbeit (German: academic ghostwriter for doctoral theses)—to handle complex tasks behind the scenes.
Now, there will be bigger questions asked of Enzo Maresca on how he can crack the Luis Enrique tactical code. This upcoming final is a game of wits for two managers who are at different ends of the spectrum when it comes to experience and reputation. But Maresca will take his shot.
Meanwhile, PSG will be seen as the heavy favourites following a stellar win over Real Madrid in the semi-finals. The UEFA Champions League holders have been very comfortable since an early wobble in the group stages, as Enrique has found his rhythm again to tune his players to his style.
Les Parisiens have been extreme at both ends of the pitch, having scored plenty of goals on their way to the final, while conceding only once throughout the tournament, which was against Botafogo. They brushed aside Inter Miami in the first knockout game, while being comfortable winners against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
Against Real Madrid, Enrique showed Xabi Alonso what it would take to beat the best manager on the planet at the current moment. PSG were three goals up under the opening 25 minutes, and without conceding their dominance to a star-studded side, they ensured to add a fourth in the second half and see out the contest. A brace from Fabian Ruiz, while goals from Ousmane Dembele and substitute Goncalo Ramos sealed the passage.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Maresca is expected to ring in some changes to his setup, dependent on the availability of certain players. The big worry was the ankle issue with Moises Caicedo. The Ecuadorian midfielder suffered a massive knock against Fluminense, but continued to play.
While there were some doubts in the background, he has since joined full training and will certainly start in Chelsea’s midfield alongside Enzo Fernandez. Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia have muscular issues that could put their participation into some doubt, while Benoit Badiashile is also unlikely to play.
The big news is Noni Madueke’s absence, after Chelsea gave the attacker permission to fly back to the UK to undergo his medicals with Arsenal ahead of a move. Beyond that, Liam Delap and Levi Colwill are available following their suspension for the semi-finals. Given how Pedro performed in the last game, there is hardly a chance for Maresca to drop the Brazilian in favour of Delap.
Levi Colwill will start alongside Trevoh Chalobah at the back, while Malo Gusto might be preferred over Reece James, who could be an option off the bench. Christopher Nkunku was excellent in the semi-finals, and he might get a start in this all-important game from the right side of the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; caicedo, Fernandez; Nkunku, Palmer, Neto; Pedro
PSG
Luis Enrique is widely expected to name an unchanged lineup to face Chelsea in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final. There are a few notable absentees for this big clash, including key defenders Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez. The duo are still serving a suspension accrued due to their red cards in the quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
Lucas Beraldo put in a steady performance at the back alongside Marquinhos against Real Madrid, and Enrique will be able to trust the former once again. There are no other changes expected in any part of the pitch as Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes set in the full-back roles.
Vitinha will continue to marshal the midfield for Enrique’s side, with Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz operating alongside the Portuguese enforcer. Ousman Dembele will continue to lead the fluid front three, with Khvicha Kvaratshkelia and Desire Doue on either side.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvataskhelia
Key Stats
- PSG have conceded only once throughout their Club World Cup campaign.
- Paris Saint-Germain have secured 48 wins this season, setting a new club record for the most victories in a single campaign.
- Chelsea have five wins in their last six games.
- Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in only three of those last 6 games.
Player to Watch
Ousmane Dembele
Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:’2dk7lBhkRzlLeWjZ_jLK6A’,sig:’6zIW2BZRPT63ESy0Snsyuu8fahimKcDeYXWZwpTTTS0=’,w:’594px’,h:’396px’,items:’2224469062′,caption: true ,tld:’com’,is360: false })});
The Frenchman put in another masterclass performance for PSG en route to the FIFA Club World Cup final, as the Real Madrid defenders could barely handle him. Dembele exemplified what Luis Enrique wants from his forwards with his high-energy press and pouncing on the slightest mistakes from defenders.
Hence, he will be the key man once again for PSG in the final, and Chelsea’s defenders may have to stay alert throughout the game. Dembele is a big shout for the Ballon d’Or accolade, and a top performance against the West London outfit will more or less cement his name for the grand prize.
Prediction
Chelsea 0-3 PSG
Chelsea will face a big test against PSG, and much like the fate of many other top teams over the last half a year, they might succumb to the pressure. Enzo Maresca has the attributes to face a tactically astute manager such as Luis Enrique, but given the form of the Parisians, it is difficult to predict anything other than a PSG win.
PSG are aiming to get their hands on the Club World Cup and brush Chelsea aside in this final. Given their outstanding performances so far in this tournament’s knockout games, there is nothing to suggest they will drop off, as Enrique’s men are expected to score at least three goals and possibly even keep a clean sheet en route to lifting the trophy on Sunday.