Where PSG vs Real Madrid will be won and lost: Key battles and tactical breakdown

PSG are preparing for a mammoth encounter when they square off against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, 9th July. It will be interesting to see who takes the game more seriously, as both clubs are coming off the back of a long season.

Luis Enrique's side had the longer season as they went to the Champions League final, while Real Madrid got knocked out by Arsenal in the quarter-finals. Despite this, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will reward the club's players if they win the tournament. Here at PSG Post, we discuss where the semi-finals will be won and lost.

What could decide PSG vs Real Madrid ?

Kylian Mbappe against Achraf Hakimi

Mbappe and Hakimi played against each other in the 2022 World Cup when France played Morocco in the semi-finals. On that occasion, Les Bleus won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani. After that game, they swapped shirts as they have been good friends for a while. Since that game, Hakimi has become the best right back in the world, while Mbappe still is one of the three best players in the world, if not the best.

Hakimi's season was so good last campaign that some people think he should be in contention for the Ballon d'Or alongside Ousmane Dembele. If Hakimi contains the French captain the European champions have a great chance of progressing to the final.

The midfield battle

Both sides have high-caliber midfielders. Real Madrid can boast a midfield three consisting of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valvedre, and Aurelien Tchouameni. This is a midfield that can impose itself on the opposition.

PSG's midfield will have trouble dealing with them if they take too many touches on the ball and avoid playing the simple pass. The likes of Vitinha and João Neves may not be able to match the physicality of the Real Madrid midfielders, but they have the ability to control the game against the Spanish giants.

Vinicius / Rodrygo against Nuno Mendes

Nuno Mendes is arguably the best left-back in the world. Whichever winger has come up against him has struggled. The most recent example was Lamine Yamal in the UEFA Nations League final. Yamal struggled to get into the game and was taken off in Extra time.

This game was a learning curve for the teenager as he rarely ever gets locked up by the opposition fullback. It will be interesting to see which one player out of Vinicius or Rodrygo will go up against Nuno Mendes, as Real Madrid have a very fluid front three.

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