The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has served up high drama and early exits for giants like Manchester City and Inter, but now attention turns to a matchup that feels like it belongs on the final weekend, not the quarterfinal slate. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, two of Europe’s true powerhouses, are set to collide on Saturday in Atlanta in a fixture brimming with tension, tactical intrigue, and history.
Yet the anticipation surrounding this tie hasn’t only been driven by past encounters or shiny silverware. Both clubs have stumbled on the way to this stage, and both now face the pressure of redemption.
Bayern arrived in the quarterfinals having endured a rocky group stage. Their 1-0 loss to Benfica dropped them to second place in Group C, forcing a trickier draw in the knockout stages. But they bounced back convincingly, dispatching Flamengo 4–2 in a chaotic and entertaining Round of 16 encounter.
PSG, on the other hand, has grown in confidence since a surprise 1-0 group stage defeat to Botafogo. That result was a rare blemish in an otherwise dominant campaign under Luis Enrique, whose system is now fully embedded. The French champions routed Inter Miami 4-0 in the previous round, putting on a show of clinical finishing and tight defensive organization.
Confirmed lineups: Stars and suspensions loom
Both managers have revealed their starting elevens. Bayern lines up in a 4-2-3-1 formation:
Bayern Munich XI: Neuer; Laimer, Tah, Upamecano, Stanisic; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Coman; Kane.
For PSG, it’s a dynamic 4-3-3 setup that leans into youth and width:
PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Doue, Barcola, Kvaratskhelia.
Notably, veteran forward Thomas Müller may be playing in his last few matches for Bayern, adding emotional weight to the proceedings. A handful of players—Kimmich, Kane, Musiala, Marquinhos, and Neves, among others—are one yellow card away from suspension, a factor that could influence how aggressively each team approaches the physical duels.
