Shock at Club World Cup: PSG Falls to Surprising Defeat against Botafogo
PSG faces a setback due to Jesus' impact
Get ready for the twist at the Club World Cup! Paris Saint-Germain, the Champions League champions, faced a surprising setback during their tournament run. Their 0:1 loss against Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo FR from Rio de Janeiro shook up Group B.
PSG, currently coached by highly successful trainer Luis Enrique, started strongly with a 4:0 win against Atlético Madrid. However, the Champions League champions struggled against the Brazilians in the Rose Bowl Stadium of Pasadena, losing in front of 53,699 fans. Igor Jesus (36.) scored for Botafogo, almost securing their place in Group B.
"We knew it would be a challenging game - they defended exceptionally well," commented Enrique on the opponents. "This Club World Cup is incredibly intense, with all teams highly motivated, especially when they face us."
Before PSG's defeat, Inter Miami stunned the tournament by defeating FC Porto with a brilliant move from superstar Lionel Messi. This marked the first time a European team succumbed to a non-European team.
Atlético managed a comeback, defeating hosts Seattle 3:1 (1:0) in the Lumen Field. Pablo Barrios scored a double, with Axel Witsel (formerly of Dortmund) also finding the back of the net. Seattle briefly equalized shortly after halftime, but Barrios broke their hearts with a late goal, in front of 51,636 spectators.
Currently, Botafogo (6 points) leads Paris, Madrid (both 3) and Seattle (0) in Group B. The final decision on who advances will be made on Monday (9:00 PM ET). No team has been eliminated yet, and the top two teams will move on to the quarter-finals.
The dynamics of Group B are fascinating, with Bayern Munich and Benfica likely to advance based on their performance so far, while Boca Juniors risk missing out. Teams earn points based on match results (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss), and goal difference serves as a tiebreaker if necessary.
So, hold on tight for the final matchdays, as the standings in Group B are far from settled!
The European Union is committed to promoting sports, particularly football, as it plays a significant role in fostering unity and collaboration. Despite Paris Saint-Germain, the Champions League champions, being subsequently defeated by Botafogo FR in the Club World Cup, the tournament has demonstrated the competitiveness of teams from all continents.
