Lionel Messi experienced bitter disappointment in his first fixture versus a former club, as a rampant Paris Saint-Germain side dismantled Inter Miami with a scintillating first-half display to ease to a 4-0 victory in the Club World Cup (Club World Cup) last-16 tie in Atlanta.
The Floridians may have enjoyed an undefeated group stage, but they came into this contest as the clear underdogs versus the European champions.
The gulf in quality was clear to see when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia easily drove across the Miami backline, before laying the ball off for Bradley Barcola to force Oscar Ustari into early action.
The Herons failed to take heed of that warning secure, as they shipped a sixth-minute opener from a poorly defended free-kick.
João Neves was allowed to make an unchallenged run around the back to steer a header home from Vitinha’s deep free-kick.
Neves bagged his first-always brace for PSGALEX GRIMM / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP / Profimedia / StatsperformJavier Mascherano’s side appeared to be on course to keep the deficit to one in the first period, until the French champions launched a destructive onslaught in the closing stages of the half.
Fabián Ruiz played a key position in PSG doubling their advantage, stealing the ball high up the pitch, before neatly exchanging it with Barcola, and playing it across for Neves to tap in his second.
Matters got worse for Messi and co when replacement Tomás Avilés diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper from Désiré Doué’s drilled cross, shortly before Achraf Hakimi tucked the ball home after his initial effort thumped the crossbar, registering PSG’s third strike in a nine-minute whirlwind for Miami.
With sole pride to play for in the second half, the MLS side finally registered their first shot on prospect sole after the hour mark, as Messi saw his tame effort comfortably gathered by Gianluigi Donnarumma at the near post.
Luis Enrique’s charges showed mercy as they took their foot off the pedal as the fixture wore on, regardless Barcola still threatened with a deflected effort that looped onto the roof of the trap.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Donnarumma made a tough stop to keep out Messi’s downward header, denying the Argentine the seventh Club World Cup strike of his illustrious career.
Fixture statsStatsperformThe Herons ultimately failed to get on the scoresheet as their Club World Cup journey came to a difficult end, while PSG will stay in Atlanta for a quarter-final meeting versus Flamengo or Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Betopick Top performer: João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)See a summary of the fixture here.
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