Ultimate Guide to the Club World Cup Final: Chelsea vs. PSG – Who Will Claim the Title of World’s Best?

The Athletic is covering the thrilling final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where Chelsea will face Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City. After weeks of matches, only these two teams remain, each having earned their place through different European competitions.

Chelsea comes energized after winning the Conference League. Coach Enzo Maresca has managed to keep the team performing well, even with many player changes. PSG, on the other hand, has shown dominance in this tournament, conceding just one goal in six matches and defeating major teams like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Interestingly, these teams haven’t played each other in a competitive match since PSG beat Chelsea in the Champions League back in the 2015-16 season.

As fans look forward to today’s match, some key factors may play a vital role.

Can Chelsea Contain PSG’s Wide Attacks?
PSG is known for their ability to strike through the flanks. Their players, including Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola, excel at one-on-one situations, making them a threat whenever they penetrate into wide areas.

Famed coach Arsène Wenger recently pointed out that PSG’s players are dribblers first, and passers second, making their attacking style unique. Statistics show that players like Desire Doue lead the tournament in take-ons, highlighting the skill and speed that set PSG apart.

To counter this, Chelsea may try a defensive strategy similar to Botafogo’s, which previously led to a surprise win against a rotated PSG squad.

Chelsea’s Defensive Setup Must Be Agile
PSG often switches the ball from one side of the pitch to another, making it essential for Chelsea to remain nimble in defense. In this tournament, they’ve attempted the most switches—57.

These switches serve to create overloads and isolate defenders, exposing gaps for goal-scoring opportunities. In the semis against Real Madrid, PSG’s clever plays created two-versus-one scenarios, showcasing their tactical prowess.

With the New Jersey heat today, Chelsea needs to stay compact and transitions quickly to shut down PSG’s wide play.

The Impact of Full-Backs
In this tournament, Chelsea has shown a lot of flexibility in their squad. They’ve rotated 27 players, presenting challenges in selecting the right lineup. Who takes the position of striker is one of today’s key decisions.

The choice of full-backs will also be critical. Maresca might opt for Marc Cucurella to push forward or Reece James to tuck in, depending on how he wants to utilize attacking options against PSG’s formidable defense.

Can Chelsea Capitalize on Transitions?
Chelsea may find success not through high pressing, but by exploiting quick transition moments when they regain possession. They’ve been effective in fast breaks, leading the competition with 19 direct attacks.

Looking back at Bayern Munich’s strategies against PSG, deliberate passes opened up opportunities for goal-scoring. If Chelsea adopts a similar approach today, they could surprise PSG despite the odds being against them.

What’s the Prediction?
The Athletic’s match prediction model favors PSG with a 64% chance of winning. Chelsea’s best chance lies in forcing the game to extra time, with a projected 19% probability of a draw. The most likely scoreline suggested is 2-1 in favor of PSG, but given both teams’ unpredictability, anything is possible.

Today’s match promises a captivating tactical battle. A world champion title awaits the victor, adding an extra layer of excitement to this meeting of football giants.

Source link

Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, FIFA Club World Cup, Ligue 1, Premier League, Soccer