LOS ANGELES: Paris St Germain picked up right where they left off in their first match since winning the Champions League last month as they laid down an ominous marker on their march towards global domination at the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday.

The first full day of action at the inaugural edition of the 32-team club tournament saw newly crowned European champions PSG turn what was billed as a blockbuster into a 4-0 rout of Atletico Madrid.

The sunsoaked midday match, timed to accommodate fans watching in Europe, drew 80,619 people to the sunsoaked Rose Bowl in Pasadena on a day when the toasty conditions led to water breaks in both halves.

“It’s the best scheduled time for the European countries, but it’s difficult to play in these conditions,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said after the Group B clash.

Enrique was encouraged to see the massive turnout, which set an attendance record for PSG and Atletico Madrid this season, according to FIFA.

“It’s really great to feel that love in another part of the world,” Enrique said. “We are happy and we want to continue in that way.”

No team has been able to push PSG off course lately.

They have outscored their opponents 12-0 over their past three matches including their 5-0 romp over Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Beating fellow European powerhouse Atletico in such convincing fashion solidifies PSG’s status as one of the favourites to triumph in the 32-team Club World Cup.

Despite being without injured Ballon d’Or favourite Ousmane Dembele, the young team earned the win behind a balanced attack and saw goals from four different players - Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Senny Mayulu and Lee Kang-in.

“Every single player has been developing and showing to the team their best quality,” Enrique said. “As a coach I’m very happy.”

Atletico manager Diego Simeone refused to cite the heat as a factor in his team’s defeat.

“We both played in the same weather conditions,” Simeone said. “They played much better than we did. They have amazing players and that’s why they’ve just won everything.”

PSG quickly settled into their smooth passing game to control the early exchanges before taking the lead in the 19th minute when Ruiz fired home from distance.

They doubled their advantage just before halftime when an Antoine Griezmann miss led to a counter-attack that ended with Vitinha firing home.

The La Liga side appeared to have pulled one back when Julian Alvarez found the net in the 57th minute but it was overturned after a VAR review determined Koke had fouled Desire Doue in the leadup to the strike.

The Spanish side’s nightmare continued when defender Clement Lenglet was sent off after receiving a second yellow card and Alexander Sorloth inexplicably missed what should have been a tap-in, instead sending it over the bar.

PSG swiftly made Atleti pay for that miss, substitute Mayulu pouncing on a loose ball to make it 3-0 in the 87th minute. The rout was completed in injury time when Lee stepped up to convert a penalty after a handball by Robin Le Normand.

PSG will be back at the Rose Bowl on Thursday evening to face Botafogo.

Brazilian champions Botafogo hung on for a 2-1 win at a determined Seattle Sounders.

The Copa Libertadores holders took the lead in the 28th minute when Jair Cunha rose superbly to head in a cross curled in at pace by Alex Telles. Igor Jesus doubled the advantage on the stroke of half-time with a bullet header.

It was a different story after the break.

The Sounders dominated possession and put Botafogo’s defence under intense pressure, pulling a goal back through a deflected Cristian Roldan header.

Seattle pushed forward in search of the equaliser but some desperate defending and fine goalkeeping from John saw the Brazilian club over the line.

“The important thing here was the result, the effort, but we know we didn’t play well,” Botafogo captain Marlon Freitas told TV Globo. “We have to learn lessons, both individually and collectively. This win helps ease some of the anxiety, but we must improve against our next opponents because playing like this, the result might not be the same.”

Palmeiras drew 0-0 with Portuguese giants Porto in Group ‘A’ at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Porto’s stand-in goalkeeper Claudio Ramos delivering a stellar performance to frustrate the Brazilian side.

Ramos, deputising for injured captain Diego Costa, produced a string of saves to deny Palmeiras, who dominated the contest but were unable to find a breakthrough.

The substitute keeper’s heroics ensured Porto left with a valuable point as all four teams in Group ‘A’ remain level after Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Egypt’s Al Ahly also drew 0-0 on Saturday.

“I think it was a well-balanced game where we had the best chances, but football is incredible,” Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira told DAZN. “Porto’s best player was their subs­titute goalkeeper, who made four or five incredible saves to frustrate us.”

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2025