In the 2025 Intercontinental Cup final, Paris Saint-Germain faced Flamengo in Al-Rayyan, Qatar, and the match was very hard-fought, as expected. Paris opened the scoring through Kvaratskhelia in the first half, but a penalty conceded by Marquinhos allowed Flamengo to equalize.

The match was undecided until the end, finishing in a penalty shootout, and Safonov, a surprise starter, then stopped almost everything, with four saves in five attempts. The Russian put PSG on top of the world!

Flamengo kicked off and immediately showed intensity in its early plays, with an early wide free kick that came to nothing (2nd). Playing up front, Lee was literally flattened in the first contact by Leo Ortiz (3rd). Vitinha attempted a long-range lob, but it came to nothing (4th). From a long free kick, Vitinha found Joao Neves at the far post. He volleyed, and it went just wide (4th).

In just five minutes, the Brazilians had already committed three heavy fouls, but still no card (6th). The first shot was for Lee, but Rossi saved easily (7th). On a back pass, Rossi came out of his goal and cleared somewhat haphazardly to concede a corner. It fell to Neves, who headed it back to Ruiz. He scored from 20 meters with the outside of his left foot (1-0, 9th)! VAR was called to validate the goal as the ball may have gone out beforehand, which was confirmed, and the goal was disallowed (11th).

It turned into corners, and Mendes could shoot, forcing another one (13th). After a good spell, Flamengo shot from 20 meters, but Safonov saved well (17th). As Flamengo finally received a yellow card, PSG was increasingly bothered (22nd). Paris had the ball but struggled to create danger (28th). Zaire-Emery made a strong breakthrough, but it was blocked, and Doue with Lee could not get a shot off (30th).

A hard blow for PSG, Lee remained on the ground, with a left thigh injury, and he seemed to ask for a substitution (32nd). Mayulu replaced the South Korean (35th). PSG opened the scoring on a quick action: Mayulu found Doue on the right, who crossed, the goalkeeper could not really clear, and Kvaratskhelia finished from close range (1-0, 38th).

Flamengo came relatively close to equalizing immediately. Zaire-Emery was dispossessed at his feet 20 meters out, the play continued, and De Arrascaeta shot, it was deflected for a corner (40th). Flamengo was dangerous on the corner, Pulgar was alone at the far post, but did not hit the target (42nd). As Vitinha remained on the ground following a huge hit from Henrique, 3 more minutes were announced (45th). The Portuguese was clearly dazed but returned (45+2). At halftime, PSG was logically ahead in a match against very physical Brazilians.

PSG restarted the match, but Mendes was immediately fouled with a bad Brazilian challenge (46th)... Paris had the ball and made Flamengo run at the start of the second half (50th). After a nice move by PSG, Mayulu found Neves on the right. He cut back onto his left foot and shot hard, into the goalkeeper's arms (51st). Paris dominated calmly, despite the fouls received, and Ruiz sent a perfect cross that no one met (54th).

Flamengo made a first offensive substitution, with Pedro for Carracal, to try to come back (57th). On a poorly played throw-in, Marquinhos seemed to foul De Arrascaeta, the referee said nothing, but VAR checked, and the penalty seemed evident (59th)... It was confirmed (60th). Jorginho stepped up and deceived Safonov with a perfect change of direction (1-1, 62nd).

Everything was to be done again, and Kvaratskhelia broke away, but Pulgar fouled him, earning a very logical warning (64th). Luis Enrique then decided to take off Mayulu, who had come on 30 minutes earlier, for Barcola (64th)! Doue moved back to the center and made two big mistakes in quick succession but got away with it (66th). Zaire-Emery played a very good ball to Neves, who controlled and shot from 18 meters, but it was blocked (71st). Paris accelerated, and Barcola caused problems on the left before crossing. Kvara laid it back for Neves, who shot, but it was cleared near the line (74th).

Flamengo reacted and made a triple substitution in the 75th, taking off all its central midfielders at once. It was Paris that was dangerous, with Barcola breaking away, then serving Doue, he beat two players, then shot too softly into the goalkeeper's arms (78th). Barcola was found in the box, he controlled and then played back to Vitinha, who shot wide (80th).

PSG had a huge chance on a great run by Nuno Mendes, which ended with a cutback to Dembele, who lacked power from 6 meters out and saw a defender recover and clear (82nd). On a counter, Flamengo moved up the field very quickly, and Pedro shot from the left, but it went wide of the goal as it was deflected by Marquinhos (85th). On the corner, a huge scramble, and PSG escaped very well (86th)! Flamengo played its attacks quickly, and Bruno Henrique found himself shooting, well wide (89th).

Dembele tried to make the difference without success, but ended with a header for Kvara, the Georgian attempted an improbable overhead kick that went very wide (91st). PSG had one last good attacking move, but Flamengo obviously committed a huge foul to avoid the danger. Vitinha took the free kick, it came back in several phases, Dembele played a perfect chance, but Marquinhos completely missed from 3 meters out when he had everything to score (96th)! Extra time to come.

Mbaye came on for Kvara, with Dembele moving to the center, and extra time began. The break did the Brazilians good as they pressed very high again and caused problems (95th). Nuno Mendes forced the issue with a crazy run, but Saul Niguez fouled him badly, and the Portuguese stayed down while the Spaniard was only cautioned... He got up with difficulty but could continue (98th). From the free kick, Vitinha found Marquinhos, but it was without power, and Rossi saved (98th).

After nearly making a blunder, Zaire-Emery managed to carry the ball forward, and Dembele won a corner. He took it short but did nothing with it (104th). Neves managed to get into the box, but he was tackled as he was about to shoot (105th). On the corner, Dembele found Neves, who shot without control, it was straight at Rossi (105th)! At the halfway point of extra time, Paris was still held in check, and Ndjantou replaced Ruiz.

The final period of the match began, and Varela conceded an unnecessary corner that came to nothing (106th). Ndjantou tried his luck from distance, just wide (107th). On a Brazilian attacking move, Araujo managed to shoot with his right foot, but it was over (110th). As Mbaye tried to drive forward without much success, Dembele tried to curl with his left foot but shot very high (115th).

Mbaye played a superb pass to Dembele inside, the right-footed cutback was perfect, but he missed the target with his left foot from a very good position (116th). In quick succession, Ndjantou did not shoot from a good position, then a shot from Barcola was deflected and went just wide (117th). PSG laid siege to the goal, and Nuno Mendes shot from distance, but Rossi stretched well to save (119th). In an earlier action, Neves was fouled in the box, but the referee said play on. It would finally be decided in the penalty shootout.

De La Cruz stepped up and deceived Safonov, who went the wrong way (0-1). Vitinha stepped up and scored with a change of direction... (1-1). Saul Niguez stepped up, and Safonov saved it (1-1). Dembele stepped up and shot over; it hit the top of the crossbar... (1-1). Pedro stepped up, and Safonov saved it, but it could be retaken as the Russian left slightly early. The save was validated (1-1)!

Nuno Mendes stepped up and scored with a change of direction (2-1). Leo Pereira stepped up, and Safonov saved it (2-1)! Barcola stepped up and missed, Rossi saved with his fist (2-1)! First match point missed... Luiz Araujo stepped up and missed again. What a save from Safonov, who won the game for his team (2-1)!

PSG made history. Again.

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