Paris Saint-Germain have secured their place in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals, where they will face either Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund. The French giants advanced by defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 in the quarterfinals, thanks to goals scored by Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele. Despite finishing the match with only nine players on the pitch following red cards for both Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez, PSG held on for the win. The match also saw Bayern Munich winger Jamal Musiala suffer a severe injury after a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, forcing him to leave the game before halftime.
Despite the intense and somewhat chaotic nature of the quarterfinal, PSG successfully navigated their way to the next round. While they will be without Pacho and Hernandez for the semifinal clash, they appear to be strong favorites to lift the trophy.
However, if any team is capable of stopping their charge, who would it be? Let`s assess the most likely candidates from the remaining contenders to potentially dethrone the Champions League winners in their pursuit of global silverware.4. Borussia Dortmund (BVB)
The German powerhouse, Borussia Dortmund, is set to meet Real Madrid in the quarterfinal, with the winner potentially facing PSG in the semifinal. Under the guidance of coach Niko Kovac, Dortmund had a relatively smooth journey to the quarterfinals, but their upcoming match against Real Madrid will be the ultimate test of their performance in this summer`s tournament. Despite their efforts so far, it seems improbable they could stop PSG in their current form. However, the return of Jobe Bellingham from suspension could provide a significant boost to their squad, potentially helping them reach the final if they can first overcome Real Madrid.
3. Fluminense
The Brazilian side, Fluminense, has emerged as a notable surprise of the tournament, having defeated both Inter and Al-Hilal in the knockout stages. Fluminense`s path leads them to a semifinal encounter with Chelsea, meaning they could only potentially face PSG in the final match. PSG, coached by Luis Enrique, have displayed dominant form throughout the competition and would be widely expected to win should they meet Fluminense in the final. Nevertheless, Fluminense`s solid defense, having conceded only one goal in their last three games, combined with their attacking quality, suggests they are capable of posing a challenge to PSG.
2. Chelsea
The English club, Chelsea, secured their spot in the Club World Cup semifinals in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Palmeiras, decided by an own goal. Chelsea established control early in the match, with Cole Palmer expertly netting their first goal of the tournament just 16 minutes in, skillfully beating his defender before slotting the ball home. Managed by Enzo Maresca, Chelsea is anticipated to reach the final by overcoming Fluminense in the semifinal. However, confronting Luis Enrique`s PSG side presents a formidable obstacle. Chelsea boasts considerable talent – indeed, an abundance of it – but they may currently lack the level of team cohesion necessary to overcome this formidable PSG squad.
1. Real Madrid
Real Madrid stands out as arguably the strongest potential challenger PSG could face in this tournament. If Xabi Alonso`s team triumphs over Borussia Dortmund in their quarterfinal, they will immediately proceed to face PSG in the semifinals. The Spanish giants are considered co-favorites alongside PSG to claim the summer tournament title. French superstar Kylian Mbappe made his debut in the FIFA Club World Cup in their recent match against Juventus, having recovered from gastroenteritis. All eyes will undoubtedly be on La Liga`s leading goalscorer, as this summer tournament represents Xabi Alonso`s team`s final opportunity to secure silverware this season before the start of the new campaign in August.
Adrian Whitmore 
Benedict Kingsley