53,699 spectators crowded into the nearly 100,000-seat Rose Bowl stadium on the evening of June 20 (local time) witnessed CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores champion Botafogo defeat European giant Paris Saint-Germain with a score of 1-0 in the second match of Group B of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
In the history of the tournament, which has had many names since its official launch a quarter of a century ago, the confrontation between the European and South American champions has always been extremely fierce and intense. They have won back and forth many times, but perhaps this is the earliest stumble of a UEFA Champions League champion, exactly 20 days after being crowned in the top tournament of the Old Continent.
Desire Doue surrounded by Botafogo defenders
Winning automatically means advancing, so both Botafogo and Paris Saint-Germain entered the match with determination against evenly matched opponents. PSG was considered slightly better thanks to the quality of their squad and the excellent form of their key players, with only star Ousmane Dembele absent, even on the bench.
Botafogo responded equally strongly.
The French team dominated possession, with a possession rate of around 74% throughout the match. They launched many attacks on the left flank thanks to the mobility of Achraf Hakimi and the creativity of Vitinha - who played extremely well in the 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the opening round.
However, Botafogo's tight and disciplined defense made all efforts from PSG become deadlocked. Even before they could find a way into the opponent's goal, coach Luis Enrique's team unexpectedly conceded a goal.
Igor Jesus breaks the balance of the "early final" match of Group B
In the 36th minute, in a perfect counter-attack, Jefferson Savarino broke through on the right wing and sent a precise pass inside to Igor Jesus. The Botafogo striker finished with a one-touch shot from close range, the ball hit Pacho's foot and changed direction, flying beyond the reach of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. 1-0 for Botafogo, and that was also the score of the first half.
Igor Jesus in the arms of teammates and fans
After conceding a goal, PSG launched a strong attack in the second half. They sent in many attacking players such as Fabian Ruiz, Lee Kang-in, Joao Neves and Bradley Barcola to create more pressure but their attacking performance still did not improve.
Botafogo defended with courage and solid organization. Goalkeeper John Victor played excellently with many important saves. The defense led by Alex Telles and Alexander Barboza almost completely neutralized PSG's high balls and central combinations.
The match ended with a 1-0 victory for the South American representative. PSG controlled the game almost completely, creating many opportunities (11 shots, 9 corners), but lacked sharpness in finishing and had to pay a heavy price.
PSG suffer first defeat as UEFA Champions League champions
With this victory, Botafogo rose to the top of Group B with 6 points after two matches, almost touching both hands to participate in the knockout round. Meanwhile, PSG fell into a difficult position with only 3 points after two matches, forced to win in the final match to avoid the risk of being eliminated early in the group stage.
Botafogo have both hands on a knockout ticket
Botafogo's victory not only meant 3 points, but also affirmed the strength and bravery of South American clubs in the world's top club tournament. PSG, despite possessing an expensive and star-studded squad, received a cold shower and needed to quickly regain their bravery if they did not want to continue to sink deeper in the tournament in the US.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/dia-chan-fifa-club-world-cup-botafogo-quat-nga-nha-vo-dich-chau-au-psg-196250620111234528.htm
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