By KBC Associate 
Paris Saint-Germain maintained the form that saw them sweep to the Champions League title with an emphatic win over Atletico Madrid in their Club World Cup opener this afternoon.
Luis Enrique’s side were irresistible in the blazing Los Angeles heat as Atletico’s attempts to turn the game into a streetfight failed. Fabian Ruiz put PSG ahead in the 19th minute and Vitinha added a second in first-half injury time. PSG substitute Senny Mayulu made it 3-0 late on before Lee Kang-in’s penalty rounded off a hugely satisfactory opening matchday for the Ligue 1 giants.
Atletico offered a sporadic threat in the second half – Julian Alvarez seeing a goal ruled out – but their challenge was effectively ended when Clement Lenglet talked himself into a second yellow card with 13 minutes to go.
Entrée réussie dans la compétition 🎯#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/SrCyuakF7T
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) June 15, 2025
PSG stutter out of the blocks
It was Atletico who started the brighter with Argentina striker Alvarez fizzing a second-minute free-kick inches past Gianluigi Donnarumma’s left-hand upright.
But PSG swiftly gained the upper hand with their midfield three of Joao Neves, Vitinha and Ruiz dominating the centre of the park.
The Spanish side were doing their best to disrupt PSG’s flow with niggly fouls while boss Diego Simeone’s son Giuliano was seemingly on a one-man mission to get opposing players in trouble by rolling around in apparent agony after the slightest of touches.
Atletico were struggling to get out of their half and further sustained PSG pressure led to the opening goal.
Ruiz opens the scoring
Some neat play on the edge of the Atletico box saw Khvicha Kvaratskhelia lay the ball back for Ruiz and the Spain midfielder rifled a left-footed shot past Jan Oblak and into the bottom corner.
Simeone caused a brief moment of panic when he burst through on goal but instead of running on he opted to create a tangle of arms with Nuno Mendes and then fling himself to the ground. Referee Istvan Kovacs rightly waved away the protests.
The game moved further away from the Rojiblancos on the stroke of half-time.
Seconds after Antoine Griezmann saw a snapshot saved by Donnarumma, PSG surged forward and Kvaratskhelia played in Vitinha who ran through the heart of the Atletico defence before slotting past Oblak.
45 + 1′ | GOAL @vitinha — brilliant strike to double the lead for @PSG_inside
WATCH Paris Saint-Germain-Atlético de Madrid in the @FIFACWC NOW! | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #PSGATM pic.twitter.com/4J78kUhXET
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 15, 2025
Oblak denies Kvaratskhelia
The Slovenia international had no chance with that effort but he did produce an incredible stop to keep his side in the game shortly after half-time.
A lung-bursting run from Nuno Mendes saw him pick out Kvaratskhelia and, after the Georgian had cut inside, he produced a powerful shot that was only kept out by Oblak diving full length to divert the ball onto the underside of the bar.
Atletico thought they had capitalised on Oblak’s efforts by halving the deficit after 57 minutes. However, after Alvarez had stroked home Simeone’s pass, the goal was disallowed after it was deemed Koke had won the ball back via a foul on Desire Doue.
Atletico were further enraged when Kovacs failed to give a foul when Oblak was seemingly impeded and Lenglet took his protestations too far and was dismissed.
Sorloth shocker
The 10 men were temporarily inspired and ought to have scored shortly after.
Marcos Llorente escaped down the right and his low cross was inch-perfect for substitute Alexander Sorloth but the striker somehow blazed his effort over the bar from four yards out with the goal gaping.
As in the first half, they were made to pay.
Having made a mess of trying to clear Achraf Hakimi’s low cross, Griezmann inadvertently pushed the ball back into the path of Mayulu and he made no mistake.
87′ | GOAAAAAL! Senny Mayulu surely seals this for @PSG_inside with a great reaction and finish!
WATCH Paris Saint-Germain-Atlético de Madrid in the @FIFACWC NOW! | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #PSGATM pic.twitter.com/MQM60Q8qZc
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 15, 2025
PSG were not done and after Ibrahim Mbaye hit the post, the ensuing melee included a shot by Mayulu that hit the hapless Robin Le Normand on the hand. The referee went to the pitchside monitor and confirmed a penalty which Lee dispatched with ease.