All eyes will be on Lionel Messi in what feels like an unofficial Barcelona reunion in Atlanta, as his team goes up against Luis Enrique’s European champions.
After a rare slip-up just a few days earlier, Paris Saint-Germain bounced back on Tuesday with a comfortable 2–0 win over the Seattle Sounders, securing their place in the knockout stage.
Thanks to Atletico Madrid’s win over Botafogo—the team that beat PSG on matchday two, Les Parisiens finished top of Group B with six points. Even though they lost to Brazil’s reigning champions, Luis Enrique’s side opened the tournament with a stunning 4–0 win over Atletico and have looked in control ever since.
Without even needing to hit their highest level, PSG have dominated possession, averaging 73 percent across their three group games. They’ve spread the goals around too, with six different players scoring and ten registering at least one shot on target.
Defensively, they’ve been solid as well, conceding just once in their last five games. That lone goal came from Igor Jesus against Botafogo, in a run that started with a 3–0 win in the Coupe de France final.
Fresh off a historic treble that included Ligue 1 and the Champions League, PSG are now aiming to add the revamped Club World Cup to their trophy haul.
Another win on Sunday would move them a step closer and set up a mouthwatering quarterfinal against either Bayern Munich or Flamengo. So while old friends may be reuniting in Atlanta, there won’t be much room for sentiment.
It’s a fitting setting, given that eight years ago, PSG suffered one of their worst defeats in Europe at the hands of a Barcelona team featuring Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Javier Mascherano. This time, Mascherano will be leading the opposite dugout as head coach of Inter Miami.
Luis Enrique, who managed that iconic 2015 Barcelona side that won the Club World Cup, now comes face to face with Messi once again—only now, the Argentine star is wearing pink and playing in MLS.
When Messi left France for Miami, few imagined these clubs would ever meet in a competitive match. But thanks to the expanded format of FIFA’s global tournament, PSG and Inter Miami are going head to head on a big stage.
Inter earned their spot in the knockouts by finishing second in Group A. Goalkeeper Oscar Ustari helped them earn a goalless draw in their opener against Al Ahly, before Messi delivered a classic free-kick winner to complete a comeback against Porto. They came close to topping the group too, going two goals up against Palmeiras before the Brazilian side clawed back for a 2–2 draw at Hard Rock Stadium.
Unbeaten in their last six matches and having scored at least twice in five of them, Inter Miami have shown plenty of spirit. As the only American team still in the running at this U.S.-hosted tournament, they’ll be hoping to pull off an upset—even if the odds are stacked against them.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
So far this summer, PSG have been without star winger Ousmane Dembele, who only just returned to training after recovering from a hamstring injury. A leading candidate for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, the explosive forward may be fit enough for a spot on the bench, but little more.In his absence, rising talent Senny Mayulu stepped in against Seattle, though Goncalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola are also pushing for a place in the starting attack alongside Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Kvaratskhelia has played a key role, contributing to half of PSG’s goals at the tournament so far. In midfield, Vitinha has been the heartbeat of the team, orchestrating play and completing more passes than any other player during the group stage, including over 100 in each game.
On the other side, Inter Miami still rely heavily on Lionel Messi, who has been involved in seven goals across his nine career starts against his former club.
He’ll once again team up with Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez, while young left-back Noah Allen may continue to get the nod, potentially keeping the now-fit Jordi Alba on the bench.
With goalkeeper Drake Callender still out due to injury, along with Gonzalo Lujan and Yannick Bright, veteran Oscar Ustari is expected to remain the starter in goal.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Ramos, Doue
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Ustari; Weigandt, Aviles, Falcon, Allen; Allende, Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suarez
EXPERT PREDICTION
PSG 4-1 Inter Miami
The Herons have managed just one clean sheet in their last 13 matches, while Luis Enrique’s team has already scored over 100 goals this calendar year. With that kind of firepower, the European champions look set to bring an end to the home team's hopes in convincing fashion.
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