Paris Saint-Germain is gearing up for their Club World Cup matchup against Real Madrid. It promises to be a tense affair, as both teams are in good form and the match is too close to call.
PSG will need to be at their very best to stop this new-look Real Madrid side under coach Xabi Alonso who has infused fresh ideas and intensity into the Los Blancos squad.
A number of Real Madrid players have proven decisive in this tournament. PSG will need to keep them in check.
Here are the three players PSG need to watch out for against Real Madrid.
Gonzalo Garcia
Garcia has taken the world by storm with his performances in the Club World Cup. He is currently the joint top scorer of the tournament, with four goals in five matches. PSG will need to be wary of the youngster’s ability to find space in the penalty box and hold off defenders. However, PSG’s defensive line is strong enough to rise to the challenge and keep him under control.
Arda Guler
The highly-rated Turkish youngster, who didn’t feature much under former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, has been given a pivotal role under newly-appointed coach Xabi Alonso. Guler is also having a good tournament and has the ability to break down defences with his passing and dribbling ability. He has already registered two assists and a goal to his name in this tournament.
Vinicius Junior
Vinicius is a player who has delivered incredible performances in big matchups on more than one occasion. Although he is currently far from his best, he can’t be taken lightly as he possesses lightning speed, excellent dribbling ability, and Brazilian flair. Achraf Hakimi will have to be at his best to keep him in check.
Nevertheless, these aren’t the only players to watch out for, as others like Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, and, of course, Kylian Mbappe, who is set to face his former team for the first time, can also cause problems. That said, PSG are the current European champions and have proven their ability to beat top teams time and again recently. Hopefully, the reigning European champions will come out on top this time as well.
Image credit - Paris Saint-Germain Football Club