Whether or not the Club World Cup is of interest and whether or not its expansion and existence sits well with everyone, the fact is, some players and some teams simply mean matches will be watched. PSG against Atlético Madrid is likely one of them, with the new-crowned European champions eyeing up a global double.
By Karl Matchett
Elite attack
It’s no surprise that when the biggest teams lock horns, the paying fans want to see the best attackers on show and producing their best form. If they do so here it could be a wild affair indeed – Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on one side; Antoine Griezmann, Julián Alvarez and 20-goal Alexander Sørloth on the other. Of course, this not being a league encounter doesn’t just mean they’ll be allowed free reign entirely, particularly given the managers on the touchlines. Luis Enrique might favour attacking play, but it’s within a very cohesive unit with work rate and structure at the heart of the plan. As for Diego Simeone, the whole world knows his demands only start with world class work rate.
Giant prize?
There is both a new trophy and enormous economical advantages which come with this revamped competition so the clubs will certainly want to see if they can go far. Note: that’s a potential difference between the clubs and the teams. We’re yet to see what the latter think of it.
However, one thing is worth noting: Diego Simeone has said the best way to keep Atlético’s best players is to show them they can win trophies. While Atleti didn’t manage that last season, this competition might be another chance to do so.
The Club World Cup has historically perhaps been seen more as one to win by South Americans than Europeans; Simeone comes into that category, as does one of his sought-after attackers in Alvarez. Of course, one team reportedly keen on the Argentinian forward…is PSG.
End of season form
It couldn’t really have gone much better for the French champions in their run-in: they had already won Ligue 1 but PSG won five on the bounce to complete a treble, claiming the Champions League and Coupe de France in the process. Atlético won three of their last five to finish third in LaLiga, but were way off the pace of champions Barcelona.
Team news
Both have named full squads for the Club World Cup, though it’s difficult to say who might be involved from the outset after long seasons and with a potential seven matches to play here in short succession. Neither have reported major injuries since the end of the campaign.
Key player
Ousmane Dembélé had unquestionably the best campaign of his career, transformed as a hard-working centre-forward who could both create and score for his team. PSG’s best for goals per 90, shots per 90, chances created, xA per 90 and second for successful dribbles.
Prediction
A game where both are happy to let relatively loose, not be constrained too much by future needs and, hopefully, show their technical talents with regularity. If so, goals are the outcome: PSG 2-1 Atlético.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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