Paris Saint-Germain will take on Atletico Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday, and they will look to begin the tournament with a positive result.

PSG have been outstanding in the 2024/25 season, and they have won the Ligue 1 title and the UEFA Champions League ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup opener vs Atletico Madrid. Les Parisiens will be the favourites heading into this game, and it will be interesting to see if they can grind out a victory.

The last time these two sides met in November last year, Atletico Madrid managed to grind out a victory against PSG away from home in the UEFA Champions League. The Spanish outfit will certainly look to pull off another upset here. They have a formidable squad and talented players at their disposal. There is no doubt that they have the quality to get a good result here.

PSG cannot afford to underestimate their opposition, and they will have to put their best foot forward if they want to come away with a win. Luis Enrique’s men have an exceptional attacking unit, and Atletico Madrid have been outstanding defensively in their last few matches. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top here.

Team News & Tactics

PSG

Luis Enrique does not have any major injury concerns heading into this game, but star attacker Ousmane Dembele remains a doubt with a knock. Apart from that, he should be able to field a full-strength lineup.

PSG are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Atletico Madrid, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal. Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes will start on the flanks, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Marquinhos and Willian Pacho will form the central defensive partnership.

As for the midfield unit, Vitinha will look to provide defensive cover and control to the side alongside Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves. The three players have been exceptional all season, and they will look to dominate the midfield here. Finally, Goncalo Ramos will lead the line for PSG, with Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on either side of him.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Ramos, Kvaratskhelia

Atletico Madrid

The Spanish outfit does not have any injury or suspension concerns for this game. Atletico Madrid are likely to shape up in their usual 4-4-2 formation vs PSG, with Jan Oblak in goal.

Nahuel Molina and Javi Galan will start on the flanks. They will look to keep things tight defensively and hit PSG on the break. Robin Le Normand will start alongside Jose Gimenez at the heart of the defence.

Giuliano Simeone and Conor Gallagher will start in the wide areas, and they will look to help out defensively and creatively. In the central midfield pairing, Rodrigo de Paul and Koke will add defensive cover and control. Finally, Julian Alvarez will lead the line for Atletico Madrid alongside Antoine Griezmann.

Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Oblak; Molina, Le Normand, Gimenez, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Koke, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann

Key Stats

• Ten goals have been scored in the last three meetings between the two teams.
• PSG have won their last five matches in a row.
• Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in five of their last six matches.
• Atletico Madrid have kept four clean sheets from the last six matches.
• PSG have scored 15 goals in the last four matches.

Player to Watch

Julian Alvarez

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The Atletico Madrid striker has had an exceptional season, and he will be a key player for his side here. PSG are an attacking team, and they could leave gaps in behind for Atletico Madrid to exploit. Alvarez has been clinical, and he has helped create opportunities for his teammates.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner could look to make a defining contribution in the final third for Atletico Madrid vs PSG this weekend. The Spanish outfit will need him to step up and deliver if they want to win here.

Prediction

PSG 1-1 Atletico Madrid

Both teams will be desperate to start the tournament with a positive performance, and they will not want to end up on the losing side. This is likely to be a close contest between two very good teams, and it will be hard to separate them. Both teams are likely to get on the score sheet, but they are likely to cancel each other out. It will be difficult to pick out a winner here. A goalscoring draw seems quite likely.