Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain will face off in the FIFA Club World Cup final on July 3 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, United States.
Both teams arrive in very different forms. Chelsea has suffered throughout the tournament, managing to stay alive despite one loss and several hard-fought matches.
PSG, on the other hand, has started and ended the tournament like a steamroller, crushing most of their opponents with big wins, except for a shocking and widely covered loss to Botafogo.
PSG reaches the final with 16 goals scored and only one conceded, while Chelsea has netted 14 and allowed five.
Based on stats and performances, PSG is the clear favorite, boasting a squad of players at their peak.
However, Chelsea also has its weapons, including star signing João Pedro, midfield engine Enzo Fernández, and the dynamic Pedro Neto.
Botafogo has already shown the tactical keys to defeating PSG: using a 4-3-3 formation that closed passing lanes, defended their zone aggressively, and applied constant pressure to avoid mistakes.
Most importantly, they were clinical with the few chances they had in front of the goal.
If Chelsea can replicate that formula—with a tight defense, a combative midfield, and sharp finishing—they could break through the Parisian wall and take home the title.
How Did Botafogo Manage to Counter PSG’s Attacks?
It was a zonal defense positioned in a staggered, zigzag formation. If a PSG player managed to get past one defender, another was waiting just ahead to try to win the ball and stop the attack—an approach that PSG couldn’t break through.
Botafogo aimed to keep PSG’s forwards out of the penalty area by applying constant pressure as they approached their markers. This forced PSG to take shots from outside the box, often under pressure and without much freedom. And when the Parisians did manage to get into the box, Botafogo cleverly used the offside trap to stop them.
When Botafogo went on the attack, only four players crossed the midfield line. The rest stayed behind, never moving past the central circle. Each player held their ground and protected their area.
When PSG regained possession, Botafogo’s four defenders dropped back and positioned themselves at the edge of the penalty area, waiting for attackers, while the rest of the team applied intense man-marking pressure on every Parisian advance.
Autors/Alma Lopez & Odir Romero
