In a scorching pre-season showdown at MetLife Stadium, Paris Saint-Germain delivered a ruthless 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid without Kylian Mbappe. More than just a one-sided result, the match became a defining statement: PSG don’t just survive in the post-Mbappe era they thrive.
At the heart of this rebirth stood Ousmane Dembele, once ridiculed as an inconsistent winger at Barcelona, now reimagined as the cornerstone of a disciplined, modern PSG under Luis Enrique.
From the opening whistle, PSG showed purpose and cohesion. Within minutes, they had Real Madrid on the ropes. By the first-half water break, the scoreline read 3-0. But the real shock wasn’t the goals—it was the psychological collapse of Madrid.
Ousmane Dembele’s fingerprints were all over PSG’s dominance:
- He pressed Antonio Rudiger into a costly error leading to a goal.
- He sliced Madrid’s defense with a clever ball for Achraf Hakimi’s assist.
- He ignited the buildup to PSG’s first goal with intelligent movement.
Gone is the erratic winger of old. In his place is a 35-goal contributor with discipline, vision, and work rate. Dembele now embodies PSG’s new identity team-first football driven by pressing, collective execution, and tactical flexibility.
In stark contrast, Kylian Mbappe’s much-hyped Real Madrid debut against his former club was a disaster. Positioned as the centerpiece of Carlo Ancelotti’s attack, the French superstar looked anything but inspired. His signature left-side cuts were easily neutralized most notably by 20-year-old João Neves leaving him isolated and frustrated.
Worse, Mbappe’s presence disrupted Madrid’s chemistry. With young forward Gonzalo Garcia leading the line, Madrid had previously shown more balance and rhythm. But with Mbappe, the system looked clogged and inefficient. Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. struggled to find their usual fluency.
While PSG surged with structure and intent, Madrid unraveled under pressure:
- Valverde was miscast at right-back.
- Luka Modric sat out for his likely final match.
- The midfield, lacking Toni Kroos’ control, was directionless.
Real Madrid didn’t just lose they self-destructed. Now, an uncomfortable question lingers: Did Real Madrid invest in the wrong star?
Ousmane Dembele has adapted to modern football’s demands: pressing, positional discipline, and team fluidity. Mbappe, for all his brilliance, still plays like a soloist in a sport increasingly ruled by systems.
The irony? The style Mbappe walked away from in Paris structured, tactical, and selfless is precisely what Real Madrid desperately lacked during their defeat.
With PSG charging into the Club World Cup final without their former talisman, and Real Madrid reeling despite their biggest signing, the contrast couldn’t be clearer.