The stakes are high: a spot in the semi-finals on July 9 against either Real Madrid, five-time champions, or Borussia Dortmund.
PSG come into this clash riding high after dismantling Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4 to 0 in their last-16 match. The French side made their intentions clear from the start, dominating the first half and never looking back.
Rising star João Neves scored twice, an own goal by Tomas Avilés added to Miami’s troubles, and Achraf Hakimi sealed the rout. Luis Enrique’s team looked every bit like the tournament favorite.
Still celebrating their 2024–25 treble-winning season, PSG have been sharp but not flawless in this tournament with three wins and one loss. Their stats, however, show how dominant they’ve been. They lead all teams in average possession at 72 percent, total passes with 2,888, and have conceded just one goal so far.
But Saturday presents a much tougher challenge. Enrique knows his team must stay focused as they take on a Bayern side that has been a thorn in their side in recent years. PSG have lost their last four matches against Bayern without scoring a single goal.
The most recent was a 1 to 0 defeat with ten men back in November during the Champions League group stage. Despite that setback, PSG went on to win the tournament for the first time in their history.
Bayern, meanwhile, recovered from a disappointing group stage where they lost 1 to 0 to Benfica and finished second in Group C. They came roaring back with a 4 to 2 win over Flamengo in a thrilling last-16 match in Miami Gardens.
Harry Kane continued his remarkable season, scoring twice to bring his total to 41 goals. A stunning long-range strike from Leon Goretzka and an early own goal completed the victory, ending Flamengo’s 11-match unbeaten run.
The Bundesliga champions are eyeing a third Club World Cup title and their first since 2020. Head coach Vincent Kompany is confident, saying his team will be ready for the big stage and is focused on recharging for the upcoming showdown with PSG.
Despite the intense summer heat in the United States, Bayern have shown no signs of slowing down. They are tied for the tournament’s highest goal tally with 16, including 10 from their dominant performance against Auckland City. They also lead in high turnovers with 56, pressing sequences with 68, and rank second in final-third passes with 955.
Now comes their toughest test yet against a PSG squad firing on all cylinders. But Bayern have history on their side, having won seven of their last nine meetings with the French champions, all in the Champions League. Their only prior meeting outside of Europe was a 3 to 1 Bayern victory in the 2018 International Champions Cup in the United States.
All eyes will be on Atlanta this Saturday night. It’s a clash between two of Europe’s best, and only one will move on.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
PSG were given a boost with the return of Ousmane Dembélé, who came off the bench in the second half against Inter Miami after missing all three group stage matches due to a thigh injury. Whether the Ballon d’Or contender will be fit enough to start on Saturday remains uncertain. His last meeting with Bayern ended in a red card, so there’s added intrigue around his potential involvement.In the meantime, Desire Doué, Bradley Barcola, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia may keep their spots in the attacking lineup. Luis Enrique is unlikely to make many, if any, changes to the rest of his starting eleven.
Both Marquinhos and Fabián Ruiz were subbed off at halftime in the last-16 match to conserve energy for the quarter-final. They are expected to start again, with Marquinhos anchoring the defense and Ruiz operating in central midfield.
Bayern Munich, on the other hand, are still without Alphonso Davies and Hiroki Ito, who are both recovering from injury. Kim Min-jae is getting closer to a return, but he is not expected to be ready in time for Saturday’s clash.
Leroy Sané has officially left the club to join Galatasaray, having made his final appearance in the last-16 win. Meanwhile, Thomas Müller will leave Bayern after the tournament and could make his 756th and final appearance for the club. If Bayern lose to PSG, that farewell might come as a substitute appearance.
Kingsley Coman had to be taken off with a muscle issue during the second half of the Flamengo match, but initial reports suggest the injury is not serious. He is expected to return to full training this week.
Assuming he’s fit, Coman will be in the mix to start in the attacking trio behind Harry Kane, competing with Müller, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, and Jamal Musiala. Kane has already scored three goals in four Club World Cup matches and remains central to Bayern’s hopes.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Barcola, Doue, Kvaratskhelia
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Laimer, Tah, Upamecano, Stanisic; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Coman; Kane
EXPERT PREDICTION
PSG 2-1 Bayern Munich
Saturday’s high-stakes clash marks the toughest challenge so far for both teams in this summer’s Club World Cup. With a place in the semi-finals on the line, a cautious, hard-fought battle could be on the cards.
That said, both PSG and Bayern have shown plenty of firepower throughout the tournament, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see goals at both ends.
While Bayern may have history on their side in this matchup, it’s easy to imagine Luis Enrique’s team edging this one. PSG look capable of outscoring the German side and making a major statement as they push toward a potential showdown with Real Madrid in the final four.
