PSG vs Real Madrid Lineups 2025: Confirmed XIs & 4-0 Score

When Kylian Mbappé stepped onto the MetLife Stadium pitch on July 9, 2025, he wasn’t wearing the red and blue of Paris Saint-Germain — he was leading the line for Real Madrid in a FIFA Club World Cup semifinal against his former club. The French forward had scored off the bench in Real Madrid’s quarterfinal win over Borussia Dortmund, but this was the moment fans had been waiting for: Mbappé’s first start in white. PSG, the defending Champions League winners, had other ideas.

Match Date: 9 Jul 2025 ·
Result: PSG 4-0 Real Madrid ·
Attendance: 77,542 ·
Venue: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

What lineup does Real Madrid use?

Real Madrid’s starting XI for the July 9, 2025 semifinal featured Thibaut Courtois in goal behind a back four of Valverde, Asencio, Rüdiger, and Fran García. The midfield three comprised Arda Güler, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Jude Bellingham, while the attack was led by Gonzalo García, Vinícius Júnior, and the main attraction: Kylian Mbappé making his first start for the club (Real Madrid Official).

Several pre-match predictions had suggested Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, but Federico Valverde occupied that role in the actual lineup. The England international was absent from the matchday squad entirely, with no official reason disclosed (Last Word On Sports). Dean Huijsen, who had scored crucial goals earlier in the tournament, was suspended due to a red card received against Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals, leaving Real Madrid’s defensive depth visibly stretched (OneFootball).

Real Madrid predicted XI for 9 Jul 2025

Pre-match projections had suggested a lineup with Alexander-Arnold, but the actual XI differed notably. Sports Illustrated’s preview correctly identified most positions but missed on the right-back assignment, projecting Valverde in midfield while Güler was expected deeper (Sports Illustrated).

• Courtois
• Valverde, Asencio, Rüdiger, Fran García
• Güler, Tchouaméni, Bellingham
• Vini Jr., Mbappé, Gonzalo

Key players: Courtois, Mbappé, Bellingham

Thibaut Courtois faced eight PSG shots on target, a figure that reflects both the quality of opposition and the pressure the defending Champions League winners applied from the first whistle. Jude Bellingham, operating as a number 10 in the Güler-Tchouaméni midfield structure, struggled to influence proceedings against PSG’s high press.

Who scored for PSG v Real Madrid?

PSG’s attacking unit — featuring Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, and Doue behind the forwards — dismantled Real Madrid’s defense with ruthless efficiency. The first goal came inside six minutes when F. Ruiz Peña finished from close range after a precise cross from the right flank (Sky Sports).

Goals in 4-0 PSG win

Ousmane Dembélé doubled the lead three minutes later with a curling effort that left Courtois rooted to the spot. The 9th-minute strike forced Real Madrid into an immediate recovery mode they never achieved. Fabian Ruiz then completed his brace in the 24th minute, heading past the Belgian goalkeeper after PSG won a second ball in the box.

Ganador Ramos, introduced from the bench, added the fourth goal in the 87th minute to cap a dominant performance. PSG’s substitutes including Barcola (59′), Ramos (59′), Mayulu (66′), Zaire-Emery (66′), and Lee (79′) all saw action as the French side managed their workload ahead of the final (Sky Sports).

Highlights from past clashes

The 4-0 margin marked PSG’s most emphatic result against Real Madrid in recent memory. The two clubs had met in Champions League knockout rounds before, with memorable encounters including a 5-2 aggregate win for Real Madrid in a prior tie and a 3-1 PSG victory in another chapter of their rivalry. The defensive vulnerabilities exposed on July 9, however, represented a new low point for a Real Madrid side that had been unbeaten in five matches under new manager Xabi Alonso entering the match (Sports Illustrated).

Why did Real Madrid lose to PSG?

Several factors converged to produce Real Madrid’s heaviest defeat in recent Club World Cup history. Most obviously, the absence of Dean Huijsen at center-back fundamentally altered the defensive structure. The Dutch-born defender, who had scored in the quarterfinal against Dortmund, was serving a suspension that left Antonio Rüdiger partnering Jacobo Ramón Asencio — a pairing with limited competitive minutes together (OneFootball).

Tactics in recent defeats

Real Madrid’s midfield struggled to contain PSG’s transitions, particularly when Bellingham was drawn out of position to chase Vitinha’s progressive passes. The Spanish outlet reported that Real Madrid’s backline was weakened without Huijsen’s aerial presence and ability to step into midfield, a role the former Juventus defender had performed effectively in earlier matches (Sports Illustrated).

Offensively, Mbappé’s first start required positional adaptation from both the Frenchman and his teammates. Vinícius Júnior shifted wider to accommodate the new signing centrally, a dynamic that disrupted the understanding the Brazilian had developed with Bellingham over previous matches. Gonzalo García, who had contributed in every match Real Madrid played before the semi-final, found himself playing a supporting role rather than the goalscoring outlet he had been.

Real Madrid couldn’t win against PSG in last matches

The July 9 result extended a concerning pattern for Real Madrid against PSG in major competition. The Spanish club had won the aggregate in their most recent Champions League meeting, but this 4-0 defeat — in a single-leg format that eliminated comeback possibilities — represented their worst margin against PSG in a high-stakes match.

Who would win, PSG or Real Madrid?

Based on the July 9 result, PSG answered this question definitively on the field. However, the question of which side would win a future meeting depends heavily on context: squad availability, tactical setup, and the stage of competition all factor into any projection.

Predictions for 2025 match

Pre-match predictions had been nearly split, with some analysts favoring PSG’s superior recent Champions League form and others pointing to Real Madrid’s midfield quality and the eventual introduction of Luka Modrić from the bench. The consensus was that the match would be decided by fine margins — instead, PSG won by a four-goal margin that shocked most observers (Sports Illustrated).

Head-to-head history

The rivalry between PSG and Real Madrid has produced varied results over recent seasons. In Champions League knockout rounds, the clubs have traded victories, with Real Madrid advancing on aggregate in some years and PSG prevailing in others. The 4-0 result on July 9, 2025 represents the largest margin either side has achieved against the other in a competitive match.

The pattern: PSG’s victories tend to come when their attacking front three — Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia, and now Doue — are functioning optimally, while Real Madrid’s wins correlate with defensive solidity from their center-back pairing and control of midfield transitions.

What are the PSG vs Real Madrid lineups 4-0?

The confirmed starting lineups for the July 9, 2025 Club World Cup semi-final reflected both clubs’ tactical intentions and available personnel.

PSG actual lineup

PSG’s XI closely matched pre-match predictions, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal behind a back four of Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, and Mendes. The midfield three comprised Neves, Vitinha, and Ruiz, with Doue, Dembélé, and Kvaratskhelia forming the attacking trident (Sky Sports).

OneFootball’s preview had correctly predicted nine of the eleven starters, with minor variations around which wingers occupied the left and right positions (OneFootball). The tactical flexibility of PSG’s forwards — all capable of playing multiple positions across the front line — made exact prediction difficult but ultimately immaterial to the result.

Real Madrid actual lineup

Real Madrid’s lineup departed from predictions in more significant ways. The most notable difference was Federico Valverde at right-back rather than in his more familiar midfield role, a tactical adjustment that reflected both Alexander-Arnold’s absence and the need to counter PSG’s width.

The most significant storyline was Mbappé’s inclusion at center-forward, with Gonzalo García shifting to the right flank and Vinícius Júnior moving to the left. This positional restructuring had been anticipated but remained untested in competitive action before the semi-final.

Lineups comparison

The table below details how the two sides lined up position by position, revealing the tactical choices that shaped this one-sided encounter.

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Ethan Owen Walker Mitchell

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