Record European champions Real Madrid face off with reigning European champions Paris Saint‑Germain tonight from 10 pm EAT at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in an epic FIFA Club World Cup semi-final showdown that will see the winner face Chelsea in Sunday’s final.

Both teams are grappling with key defensive absences. PSG will be without Lucas Hernández and Willian Pacho, both suspended after red cards in the quarter-final win over Bayern Munich. Real Madrid, under manager Xabi Alonso, will miss centre-back Dean Huijsen, also sidelined due to a red card in their 3-2 victory against Borussia Dortmund.

In his pre-match conference, PSG coach Luis Enrique vowed not to overhaul the team’s Champions League-winning philosophy, hinting that Ousmane Dembele could earn a start. Dembele is well-positioned to shine, having scored at the death to seal victory over Bayern.

The French side, having secured a treble in what is arguably their best season, is now looking to add another silverware to their trophy cabinet this season and cement their status as one of the best teams in the modern footballing era.

Meanwhile, new Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso faces tactical questions in defence. With Huijsen out, Raúl Asencio is well-positioned to partner Rüdiger at the heart of defence, given Militao hasn’t had enough minutes to earn a start in such a high-stakes match. It’s a tough call on Kylian Mbappé, having recovered from a mild stomach illness, he could reunite on the pitch against his former club, although Gonzalo Garcia has made a case to start tonight due to his impressive performances so far.

PSG arrive after an impressive run of four consecutive wins without conceding and just one goal allowed in five matches; meanwhile, Real Madrid remain unbeaten in Club World Cup history (17 wins, 3 draws) and are considered among tournament favorites for their pedigree.