PSG vs Inter Miami - Club World Cup: Live score, team news and updates as Champions League winners look to qualify for last-eight

6 hours ago 15

Follow Mail Sport's live blog of PSG versus Inter Miami in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup as the Champions League winners look to progress to the quarter-finals.  

Enrique: 'We must maintain our level'

Luis Enrique, PSG boss, speaking on Saturday:

Anyone who relaxes for 10 seconds in football already knows where they are. It's not like there's no doubt they have the level and the quality, because they haven't lost that. I've seen all three of Inter Miami's games and some previous ones, and they have that quality. If we're not able to press them, it will be difficult to pressure them.
If we're not able to take the ball away from them, things don't look good because Busquets is still the same; Leo Messi is unique on the ball. Luis Suarez, you saw the last goal he scored, what a skill for managing, Jordi Alba coming in deep, he's still the same.
We all know Leo's pass to Jordi in the world of football, but it happens again and continues to happen every game, and if they have a coach like Mascherano, it's clear that either we give a great performance and maintain the necessary level of intensity, or they'll win the game, easy, there's no doubt about that.
There's no better place to compete than this wonderful stadium, in front of a team that still has a man named Leo Messi, who is a role model not only for all of us who are Culérs [Barcelona supporters] and have enjoyed Leo for many years at Barca, but also to enjoy Leo Messi as a footballer, who continues to be a role model.

  Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique talks to the media during a Press Conference ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Round of 16 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

'Best in the entire world'

There is a reason that Inter Miami have not been given a sniff today.

Nope, it's not just because they are an MLS side that have done incredibly well to even get to this stage, but rather because of how ridiculously good their opponents are.

This PSG team are daft, silly, a joke. All in a good way.

They made a mockery of the Champions League last month by slapping Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, making history in the process. I still struggle to believe just how dominant they were in Munich.

Now, with the amount of football they have played over the past 11 months, they will not be at full throttle today, but they won't need to be.

PSG are the 'best team in the entire world', as Inter Miami full-back Jordi Alba put it. He is bang on, they are. Luis Enrique's side are by far and away the strongest team in the tournament.

I would be stunned if they don't win today.

The football scriptwriters are going have to concoct something crazy if Inter Miami are to do the unthinkable and knock the European champions out.

It's not impossible, but improbable.

 Marquinhos of PSG Paris Saint-Germanin at the award ceremony  under the Winner bow with the trophy celebrate with the team after the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Jürgen Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)

Quick catch-up

By Harry Bamforth

Look how happy Luis Enrique is to see his old pal.

Sergio Busquets was a mainstay in the Barcelona midfield under Luis Enrique, a key cog in the side that won the Champions League back in 2015.

It appears that he must be closer to Enrique than Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, based on the fact that he has gone to catch up with his former boss ahead of the game.

Luis Suarez has also been sharing a laugh with Enrique, but the other two have decided to stay focused on the task ahead.

Either that, or they just aren't fussed. Who knows?

 Fabian Ruiz #8 of Paris Saint-Germain embraces Sergio Busquets #5 of Inter Miami CF prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

 Luis Enrique, Head Coach of Paris Saint-Germain, talks to Sergio Busquets #5 of Inter Miami CF during pitch inspection prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Inter Miami Team News - Messi STARTS

By Harry Bamforth

Five years ago, this would have been one hell of a team.

Luis Enrique's old reliable duo lead the line for Inter Miami, just like they have been doing all tournament.

Former Barcelona stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba also make the starting XI.

Some big, big names.

PSG Team News - Dembele makes BENCH

By Harry Bamforth

He's backkkkk.

That's right, after struggling with a thigh injury, Ousmane Dembele is back in the PSG squad.

However, he is only fit enough for the bench, and today it's Bradley Barcola's turn to deputise for the Ballon d'Or favourite.

Other than that, it's a full-strength side.

Ready for team news?

I've kept you waiting long enough, haven't I?

Nah, I haven't actually. I'm going to be a tease and make you wait a few more minutes for the team news.

Why? Well, it's funny... for me at least.

What I will tell you is that PSG are not holding back, they are very nearly full strength, in my book.

Both sets of players arrived about half an hour ago, and they have had a cheeky look at the pitch at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Going by Lionel Messi's face here, though, he doesn't look happy to be in Atlanta.

Or maybe that's just pure focus.

 Luis Enrique, Head Coach of Paris Saint-Germain, gestures during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Inter Miami's Brazilian forward #22 Leo Afonso and teammate US midfielder #41 David Ruiz smile as they walk on the pitch before the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 football match between France's Paris Saint-Germain and US Inter Miami at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 29, 2025. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Round of 16 - Paris St Germain v Inter Miami CF - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. - June 29, 2025 Inter Miami CF's Lionel Messi arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Mascherano: 'We can't just throw in the towel'

Mascherano, Inter Miami manager, speaking on Saturday:

It goes without saying we are quite aware that we are the weaker of the two teams, but in no way does this mean we should be declared dead before we have even started. We have won the right to be here. The challenge is to come here and fight against possibly the best team in the world.
We cannot show up thinking we will throw in the towel. We need to give our darnedest to win. I don’t know many times as a club we will get this opportunity so we need to make the most of it and enjoy it.
The best message is not Leo’s words but his actions on the field; you saw it against Palmeiras, he gave us 95 amazing minutes, physically speaking he was almost at his limit, but still he set the pace for his colleagues and the rhythm, he knows how he needs to be guiding his colleagues, particularly the youngest ones.

  Inter Miami CF coach Javier Mascherano talks to the media talks to the media during a Press Conference ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Round of 16 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Messi's Miami to spring shock?

They couldn't, could they?

I'm pretty sure there isn't a single sane fan out there who truly believes Inter Miami can beat PSG today. They may have Lionel Messi, but he is no spring chicken these days.

The fact that David Beckham's club have even made it into the round of 16 is one hell of an achievement. Nobody saw this coming, least Porto, whom they knocked out in the group stage.

I bet the celebrations from that magical night didn't last long, though, when they realised who they were playing.

This is not the PSG side that Lionel Messi was a part of a couple of years ago; this is a different beast. This is the Champions League-winning all-dominant pressing machine, who will not give Miami space to breathe, let alone cause problems up front.

Still, football is football. You can't completely rule Miami out.

That being said, if Miami somehow manage to beat the European champions today, I will be rendered speechless.

Those of you who know me, that takes some doing. I don't shut up.

 Luis Suarez #9 of Inter Miami CF celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Internacional CF Miami and SE Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium on June 23, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX***

 Luis Suarez of Inter Miami CF celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi after scoring the second goal of his team during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Inter CF Miami and SE Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium on June 23, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Luciano Bisbal/Getty Images)

What happened yesterday?

I mean, where do I start?

Chaos, carnage, absurd, a joke. These are all terms that have been used to describe what happened during Chelsea's round of 16 tie with Benfica last night.

With less than five minutes to go and the Blues winning 1-0, the game was seemingly petering to a conclusion. But suddenly, everything changed.

Being in Florida, storms are rather common this time of year, and one hit at the worst possible time for Enzo Maresca's side. The game had to be stopped, and the players sent in.

As a Brit, it was weird to see, but the hope was that the storm would pass and the players would be back in no time. But oh boy, that was not the case in the slightest.

It took 113 minutes for the game to restart.

Crazy, I know. I have never seen anything like it. We have had five other delays at this Club World Cup, but none like this. It changed the match, suddenly, Benfica had a new lease of life.

The Portuguese side levelled the tie in stoppage time through a dodgy penalty, and it meant that we were forced to watch extra time four hours after the game had kicked off. Yep, four hours. Mental.

In the end, Chelsea routed to a 4-1 win in the extra 30 minutes and will now face Palmeiras in the next round.

It was just a weird, weird night.

 Photo by Jose Breton/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (15378335s) Referee stops match due to approaching thunderstormduring the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between SL Benfica and Chelsea FC at Bank of America Stadium on June 28, 2025 in Charlotte, United States. Benfica SL v Chelsea FC: Round Of 16 - FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Charlotte, United States - 28 Jun 2025

 Christopher Nkunku of Chelsea FC (C) celebrating his goal with his teammates during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between SL Benfica and Chelsea FC at Bank of America Stadium on June 28, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Messi-mania sweeps Atlanta

Some may call this the Lionel Messi derby...

Well, by some, I mean me. As soon as I knew I would be covering PSG's Club World Cup round of 16 tie with Inter Miami, my mind instantly went to the little Argentine magician.

If you have been following this tournament, you will know that Mess-mania has swept the US, with every single Miami game a sell-out. It's quite crazy, considering the quiet crowds in other big games.

It's no different today. Floods of people are already arriving at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta just to get a glimpse of what many consider the GOAT, as he takes on his former side.

This is not a fixture I ever thought would come. Even in the group stages, there was no way I could see the side owned by David Beckham making it to the knockouts.

But here they are, about to take on the best team in the world, who won the Champions League just last month.

It shows just how massive Messi is, mind. The fact that the European champions are in town, but the crowds are only this big because of one man. The magic man.

Right then, shall we get cracking? I think we shall.

 Fans hold a shirt and scarf bearing the name of Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Al Ahly SC and Internacional CF Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on June 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

 A fan hols a shirt bearing the name of Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Al Ahly SC and Internacional CF Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on June 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Key Updates

  • Inter Miami Team News - Messi STARTS

  • Messi-mania sweeps Atlanta

Read Entire Article
Pemilu | Tempo | |