Chelsea vs PSG FIFA Club World Cup FINAL MATCH PREVIEW

Chelsea and PSG face off in the FIFA Club World Cup Final! Can Maresca’s rising Blues stop Luis Enrique’s unstoppable Parisian machine?

Shortest90
July 13, 2025

The stage is set. The grand finale of the FIFA Club World Cup is upon us, and it promises fireworks as Premier League heavyweights Chelsea face the unstoppable juggernaut that is Paris Saint-Germain. After dismantling Real Madrid 4-0 in the semifinal, PSG march into the final with unmatched confidence. Chelsea, on the other hand, sealed their spot with a professional 2-0 win over Fluminense — a performance that underlined their growth and resilience. But as the final looms, the key question remains: can this young, rejuvenated Chelsea side stand toe-to-toe with a PSG team that looks destined for global dominance?

Chelsea’s Journey: Learning from Flamengo, Growing with Purpose

Earlier in the tournament, Chelsea tasted defeat at the hands of Flamengo. That 3-1 loss exposed tactical flaws — primarily Enzo Maresca’s risky setup with both full-backs pushing high and Pedronetto playing more centrally, which cost them width and stability. Malangusto had one of his worst performances of the campaign, and Chelsea lacked fluidity.

But since then, this Chelsea side has evolved. They’ve found balance, restored order in midfield, and most importantly, rediscovered belief. The return to form has been driven by a tactical recalibration, with Maresca opting for a more conservative defensive structure and allowing players like Pedronetto to thrive as a natural outlet. With a backline now more composed under pressure and a midfield duo bringing both steel and finesse, Chelsea look like a team ready for the big occasion.

Midfield Engine: Enzo Fernandez & Moisés Caicedo

Chelsea’s success in the final hinges on one axis: Enzo Fernandez and Moisés Caicedo. Their partnership is the beating heart of this team. Fernandez, Chelsea’s captain, brings verticality, creativity, and goal threat. His four goals and nine assists in the last 20 matches underline just how influential he’s become.

But his freedom on the pitch is enabled by Caicedo — a midfield enforcer who puts out fires and allows Enzo to roam. The absence of Caicedo could drastically change the dynamic. While Romeo Lavia may step in, it’s simply not the same. Caicedo and Enzo have formed what many now call the best double pivot in the Premier League, with their £200 million price tag finally showing its worth.

Managerial Contrast: Calm Maresca vs. Bold Enrique

The touchline battle is just as fascinating. PSG boss Luis Enrique has been bullish throughout the tournament — “We are the best team in the world,” he declared confidently. Enzo Maresca, by contrast, began the season with humility, insisting Chelsea weren’t contenders. That cautious tone may have affected morale earlier in the campaign, coinciding with a rough patch in form.

But now, with Chelsea clicking and finding rhythm late in the season, Maresca has a chance to rewrite that narrative. The pressure is immense, and the message to his players must now be one of belief and purpose.

How Chelsea Can Tame PSG: Be Nasty, Be Bold

There’s no sugarcoating it — PSG are an elite pressing unit. Their suffocating press dismantled Real Madrid. Thibaut Courtois admitted he felt the heat, especially from Ousmane Dembélé, who was relentless in closing down and forced multiple turnovers. When a player like Dembélé — often criticized for inconsistency — becomes a pressing machine, you know this PSG team means business.

Chelsea’s strategy? Be physical. Be aggressive. Be clever.

It’s the blueprint Bayern Munich and Aston Villa have used to trouble PSG: make it ugly, disrupt their rhythm, go long, and avoid the first wave of the press. Skip lines, force PSG to run back, and break their tempo. If Chelsea can bypass the midfield trap consistently and force PSG onto the back foot, they have a chance to open up the game.

PSG’s High-Pressing Front Three: Dembele, Kvaratskhelia & Doué

What makes PSG dangerous isn’t just their stars on the ball — it’s how hard they work off it. Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, and Désiré Doué press like a pack of wolves. Luis Enrique’s message is simple: “You want to be Jordan? Then give me Jordan’s work rate.” And Dembele has responded — gone is the inconsistent winger of Barcelona; this is now a player reborn with purpose.

With these three pressing high, PSG make it nearly impossible for teams to build from the back. That first wave of pressure sets the tone. And it’s not just raw sprinting — it’s smart, angled pressing, cutting off passing lanes, forcing turnovers in dangerous areas.

Chelsea’s backline, especially Malo Gusto, will be under the microscope. Gusto’s positioning in the semifinal vs. Flamengo was suspect, and against Nuno Mendes and Kvaratskhelia, any lapse will be punished. It’s arguably the most dangerous 2v1 combination in world football right now.

Christopher Nkunku, while a creative force, must drop deep and support defensively to avoid isolation and overloads on Chelsea’s right side.

Projected Starting XIs

Chelsea (4-2-3-1):
Petrovic; Malo Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Pedronetto, Nkunku, Sterling; Jackson

PSG (4-3-3):
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Mendes; Vitinha, Ruiz, Zaïre-Emery; Dembélé, Doué, Kvaratskhelia

Betting Angle: All Eyes on PSG

PSG come into this match as heavy favorites. With 16 goals scored and only one conceded in the tournament, their dominance is statistical as well as visual. Bookmakers are backing them with odds nearing -200, and analysts are putting their money where their mouths are.

Key Bets:

PSG to score in both halves: ✅ (+110)
Dembélé to score or assist: ✅ (-135)

These lines reflect PSG’s efficiency. In just nine minutes against Madrid, Dembélé notched both a goal and an assist. Expect him to be central again, especially with Chelsea likely pinned back for spells.