Competition: FIFA Club World Cup – Final
Venue: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey (neutral ground)
Kick-off: 20:00 (BST) · Sunday 13 July 2025
Match Narrative 🔥
A trans-Atlantic finale pitches West London’s revitalised Chelsea against the star-studded Paris Saint-Germain. PSG arrive in the Garden State chasing a historic clean sweep of every major trophy on offer this season, while Chelsea’s youthful renaissance under Enzo Maresca has given the Blues a shot at their first global title since 2021.
“Two clubs, one glittering prize – expect tempo, technique and a packed MetLife turning blue and rouge.” – LiveSportIQ matchdesk
Form Guide 📈
Last Five Competitive Fixtures | |||
---|---|---|---|
Side | Opposition | Result | Key Notes |
Chelsea | Fluminense (N) | 2-0 ✅ | João Pedro brace, 52 % possession |
Chelsea | Palmeiras (N) | 2-1 ✅ | Late winner from Palmer ⚡ |
Chelsea | Benfica (N) | 4-1 ✅ | Clinical counter-attacks |
PSG | Real Madrid (N) | 4-0 ✅ | Ruiz masterclass, 68 % ball 🔮 |
PSG | Bayern Munich (N) | 2-0 ✅ | Dembele torment down right |
Head-to-Head Snapshot 🧮
In eight previous meetings the ledger is finely balanced: PSG three wins, Chelsea two, three draws. Their most recent clash – a Champions League tie back in 2016 – saw the Parisians edge a 2-1 thriller at Stamford Bridge. Both clubs have evolved beyond recognition since, yet the rivalry retains a crackle of unfinished business.
Tactical Chalkboard 🧠
- Chelsea press & pivot: Maresca’s 4-2-3-1 hinges on Reece James inverting alongside Caicedo to create a midfield box and release overlapping full-backs. Expect Palmer to drift between lines, feeding the spring-heeled João Pedro.
- PSG positional play: Luis Enrique’s 4-3-3 revolves around high-tempo circulation. Vitinha and Ruiz rotate to drag markers, freeing wide dribblers Dembele and Kvaratskhelia to isolate defenders 1-v-1. Watch for Hakimi’s under-lapping bursts inside the final third.
- Key duel: Levi Colwill vs Gonçalo Ramos late on. Should Ramos emerge from the bench, Chelsea’s left-side centre-half will need to track runs between the posts while Cucurella deals with Dembele.
Predicted Line-Ups ⭐
Chelsea (4-2-3-1) | Paris SG (4-3-3) |
---|---|
R. Sánchez (GK) | G. Donnarumma (GK) |
Malo Gusto | Achraf Hakimi |
Trevoh Chalobah | Marquinhos (c) |
Levi Colwill | Lucas Beraldo |
Marc Cucurella | Nuno Mendes |
Reece James | João Neves |
Moisés Caicedo | Vitinha |
Cole Palmer | Fabián Ruiz |
Enzo Fernández | Désiré Doué |
Pedro Neto | Ousmane Dembélé |
João Pedro | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia |
Numbers That Matter 🔍
- PSG average 70 % possession across their last ten fixtures – highest in Europe’s top leagues.
- Chelsea have conceded just 0.7 goals per match since April, thanks largely to Sánchez’s save ratio of 83 %.
- Gonçalo Ramos has six goals in 264 Club World Cup minutes – one every 44 minutes⌛.
- Palmer has created 2+ chances in each of his past seven outings – the creative engine ⚙️.
Scoreboard Prediction 🧩
Full-Time | Half-Time |
---|---|
Chelsea 0 – 2 PSG ⚽⚽ | Chelsea 0 – 1 PSG |
Expect an early Parisian surge, territorial dominance and a late clincher once spaces open. Chelsea’s counter threat will keep the affair lively, but PSG’s midfield control should ultimately tilt the balance.
Player to Watch 🎯
Fabián Ruiz is purring at present – two goals and four assists in his last three matches. His late-box arrivals and disguised passes between the lines have become PSG’s metronome. If Chelsea fail to close him down quickly, the Spaniard will dictate rhythm all evening.
Key Talking Points for the Pub 🍻
- Can Chelsea’s youthful back line stay disciplined without the ball for long spells?
- Will Maresca spring a surprise – perhaps Nkunku off the bench against his former club?
- Is this the night PSG finally add a global crown to their domestic and European haul?