Botafogo shock PSG 1-0 at Club World Cup

In one of the most surprising results of the Club World Cup so far, Brazilian side Botafogo defeated European champions Paris Saint Germain 1-0 on Thursday. The match, held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, was PSG’s first-ever competitive encounter with Botafogo, and it turned out to be a nightmare for the French giants.

Despite dominating possession and creating chances throughout the game, PSG were undone by a disciplined Botafogo defense and a moment of clinical attacking quality in the 36th minute. After winning the ball in midfield, Jefferson Savarino played a perfectly weighted pass to Igor Jesus, who outsmarted two defenders and fired a shot that took a wicked deflection off PSG’s Willian Pacho. The deflection completely wrong-footed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, and the ball rolled into the net to give Botafogo a shock lead.

Jesus celebrated wildly, jumping over the barrier to celebrate with ecstatic Botafogo supporters. PSG continued to press hard in the second half but were consistently denied by Botafogo’s compact shape and relentless energy. The French side did manage to find the net in the 79th minute, but the goal was ruled offside after a VAR check.

The result marked the first time since March that PSG failed to score in a match. They had found the net in 19 straight games before this defeat. Botafogo’s coach Renato Paiva praised his players for their unity, saying they had “beaten PSG at their own game” by attacking and defending as a team. The win puts Botafogo in a strong position in Group B, having won both of their opening matches. PSG, who thrashed Atletico Madrid in their opener, will now need a result against Seattle Sounders to stay in contention.

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Botafogo’s triumph over PSG not only opened up Group B of the Club World Cup but also underlined the growing competitiveness of Brazilian football on the world stage. With four Brazilian clubs participating in the expanded 32-team format, all remain unbeaten, signaling a potential shift in the power dynamics between Europe and South America.

This latest result boosts Botafogo’s tally to six points from two games, following their earlier 2-1 victory over MLS side Seattle Sounders. With a game against Atletico Madrid still to come, Botafogo are firmly in control of their fate and look poised to secure a spot in the knockout stages. PSG, meanwhile, will face pressure in their final group game, needing a win over Seattle to avoid an early exit.

Botafogo’s head coach, Renato Paiva, emphasized the importance of playing as a cohesive unit. Speaking after the match, he praised PSG as “a fantastic team” and credited his players for executing the plan to stay compact, defend collectively, and break when the opportunity arose. “Just be a team, enjoy playing together, attack together, defend together,” he told them  and the message clearly resonated.

PSG’s night was further hampered by the absence of Ousmane Dembele, who remains sidelined due to an injury sustained while on duty with France earlier in the month. The Parisians had been on an impressive scoring streak but were denied at every turn by Botafogo’s gritty defending and smart tactical approach.

As the tournament heats up, Brazil’s representatives are sending a loud message. Paiva summed it up best: “Brazil will always be Brazil in world football.” The victory will be remembered as one of the biggest shocks of the competition, and it adds even more excitement to the remaining group matches.