Hakimi Shines as PSG Cruise Past Atletico in Club World Cup Opener; Bayern Hit Double Digits in Rout
Pasadena, The Gulf Observer: Paris Saint-Germain made a statement of intent in their opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup, delivering a dominant 4–0 victory over Atletico Madrid at the iconic Rose Bowl — and while he didn’t score, Achraf Hakimi was everywhere.
The Moroccan right-back was a relentless presence on the flank, combining defensive solidity with his trademark attacking flair. His tireless runs stretched Atletico’s backline and carved out space for PSG’s midfield maestros to do the damage.
Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring with a sharp low drive, and just before the break, Vitinha capped a clinical counter-attack — sparked by a long throw from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma — with a composed finish to make it 2–0.
The second half saw Atletico reduced to 10 men, as Clément Lenglet received a second yellow card for dissent. From there, the French champions turned the screw. Senny Mayulu added a third off the bench, and in stoppage time, Lee Kang-in calmly converted from the penalty spot after a VAR-confirmed handball.
Despite the convincing scoreline, conditions were brutal. With temperatures soaring to 31°C and a midday kickoff, both teams required cooling breaks. Several players appeared visibly drained by full-time. Even Vitinha — named Man of the Match — described the heat as “difficult,” while PSG coach Luis Enrique admitted the weather had “a definite impact” on the rhythm of the match.
The victory continues PSG’s remarkable form in 2025, with the club having now scored over 100 goals across all competitions since the start of the year.
