Club World Cup: PSG vs. Inter Miami Preview
PSG finished atop Group B after Botafogo fell to Atlético de Madrid on Matchday 3 of the group stage. Meanwhile, Inter Miami had an opportunity to top Group A, but giving up a two-goal lead and drawing against Palmeiras on Matchday 3 led to them finishing second to set up this anticipated matchup.
Messi is at the center of the intrigue, having played for PSG from 2021 to 2023, with some of his former teammates like Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marquinhos, and Warren Zaïre-Emery still on the team. There’s also Ousmane Dembélé, a former teammate of the Argentinian at Barcelona, along with Enrique, who was his coach.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner made 75 total appearances for PSG, scoring 32 goals and recording 35 assists. Messi isn’t the only one seeing familiar faces as Enrique will see Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, three players he coached at Barcelona.
Once the matchup was made official for Sunday, Suárez spoke with FIFA, noting Enrique’s impact on his career.
“He had a massive influence on me. I already had a competitive streak about me, but he managed to intensify it. He taught me to operate in certain areas of the pitch in which I was asked to perform a role I wasn’t used to, given that I didn’t see much of the ball and had to initiate the press. On a personal level, I have tremendous respect and admiration for what he gets out of his players.”
Enrique and his team will look to reach the quarterfinals and continue their march toward another trophy. PSG are the favorites in this matchup despite Inter Miami having Messi and his former Barcelona teammates.
Still, Botafogo showed that PSG can be beaten in this competition despite being the reigning UEFA Champions League winner. Inter Miami will need Messi to dial back the clock and have the ball bounce their way. Still, after that Botafogo loss, the Parisians bounced back with a 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders, so they are motivated not to experience another unexpected defeat.
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