PSG and Atletico Madrid Set to Clash in Club World Cup Showdown

The first full day of Club World Cup action will bring about one of the most anticipated matchups as reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) take on Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl.

These two teams are favorites to win the tournament; however, their path to success may be complicated by strong contenders like Botafogo and the Seattle Sounders. A loss in this opening game could have severe implications for either side.

Team Form

PSG has shown remarkable form this year, suffering only four losses, with two coming after they clinched the Ligue 1 title. Despite setbacks, they managed to reach and win the Champions League final.

Atletico also ended their domestic season strongly, securing six wins and one draw in their final nine La Liga matches, positioning themselves comfortably in the top three, although they fell short of capturing the title from Barcelona.

Viewing Information

Date: Sunday, June 15
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Rose Bowl – Pasadena, CA
TV: TNT
Live stream: Watch on DAZN (for free)
Odds: PSG: -118; Draw +260; Atletico Madrid +290

Previous Encounter

Surprisingly, despite their long histories in the Champions League, PSG and Atletico Madrid had never faced each other in competitive matches until this season. Their last meeting resulted in a win for Atletico courtesy of Angel Correa’s last-minute goal, but much has changed since then.

Predicted Lineups

PSG: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Atletico Madrid: Jan Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Robin Le Normand, Clement Lenglet, Javi Galan; Giuliano Simeone, Pablo Barrios, Rodrigo De Paul, Samuel Lino; Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez.

Player to Watch

Ousmane Dembele, PSG: A frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or, Dembele’s contributions are critical. With 33 goals and 15 assists this season, he has made a significant impact in every Champions League match.

Key Storyline

High Temperatures: Players will contend with rising temperatures expected to hit the 90s, challenging their stamina and performance throughout the tournament. Previous events, including last year’s Copa America, have shown how such conditions can affect player performance.

Prediction

PSG appears well-prepared for this crucial matchup; they are likely to have enough energy reserves and the skill to manage their game effectively against a fight-hardened Atletico side.
Pick: PSG 2, Atletico Madrid 0