Bayern and PSG Face Off After Knocking Out Inter Miami and Flamengo
Bayern Munich, champions of Germany, and Paris Saint-Germain, champions of France and Europe, will face each other in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup after the former defeated Brazil’s Flamengo 4-2 and the latter thrashed Inter Miami 4-0 in the Round of 16.
The “Mercedes-Benz Stadium” in Atlanta will host this showdown on July 5, marking their second encounter this season after facing off last November, when the Bavarian side claimed a narrow 1-0 win during the unified group stage of the UEFA Champions League—an edition won by the French club for the first time in its history.
Bayern Eliminates Flamengo With Experience
Bayern showcased their offensive prowess at “Hard Rock Stadium” in Miami, handing Flamengo their first defeat after 11 unbeaten matches across all competitions. The Brazilian side joins compatriots Botafogo in exiting the tournament.
Bayern struck early as Chilean Erick Pulgar scored an own goal while trying to clear a corner kick (6). Just three minutes later, English striker Harry Kane doubled the lead with a powerful strike from outside the box that ricocheted off the right post and into the net (9).
Flamengo pulled one back through Gerson, who unleashed a rocket from inside the box that goalkeeper Manuel Neuer couldn’t keep out (33).
Leon Goretzka restored Bayern’s two-goal advantage with a quick strike from distance that found the bottom-right corner of the Brazilian net (41). Flamengo was awarded a penalty after a handball by Frenchman Michael Olise inside the area. Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho converted it successfully (55).
However, Kane sealed the result when he latched onto a pass from Joshua Kimmich and placed the ball precisely to the left of the keeper (73).
Heavy and Expected Fall for Inter Miami
At the “Mercedes-Benz Stadium” in Atlanta, Paris Saint-Germain handed Inter Miami and their star Lionel Messi a brutal defeat, sealing the match in the first half with a four-goal blitz. Portuguese midfielder João Neves (6, 39), Argentine defender Tomás Avilés (own goal, 45), and Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi (45+3) shared the goals.
It was Inter Miami’s first loss in the competition after previously drawing with Egypt’s Al Ahly (0-0), Brazil’s Palmeiras (2-2), and beating Portugal’s Porto (2-1).
PSG opened the scoring early when Désiré Doué won a free kick that Vitinha delivered to an unmarked João Neves, who headed it into the bottom-right corner past Argentine goalkeeper Óscar Ustari (6).
The Parisians doubled their lead after Spanish midfielder Fabián Ruiz dispossessed compatriot Sergio Busquets, exchanged passes with Bradley Barcola, who laid it off to Neves for an easy finish into an open goal (39).
PSG added a third when Doué’s powerful cross deflected off defender Avilés and into the net (45).
Hakimi deepened the hosts' misery by capitalizing on a ball inside the area from Barcola. He struck it with his right foot; the shot bounced off the crossbar and fell kindly for him to finish on the rebound (45+3), raising his season tally to 11 goals and 14 assists across all competitions.
