Atletico Gift PSG Top Spot but Bow Out of 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Atletico Madrid played the role of silent spoiler at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, defeating Botafogo 1–0 in their final Group B match — a result that saw Paris Saint-Germain leapfrog both sides to finish top of the group. For Diego Simeone's team, however, the narrow win wasn't enough to stay in the competition.
Having suffered a crushing defeat to PSG on Matchday 1, Atletico entered the final game needing to beat the Brazilian side by at least three goals to secure qualification for the Round of 16. Botafogo, meanwhile, only needed a draw to top the group and looked content to sit deep and defend for large stretches of the match, especially after the break.
Botafogo’s cautious approach appeared to be paying off until the 87th minute. Antoine Griezmann, who has struggled for form in the latter half of the season, latched onto a low cross from Julian Alvarez to score the game’s only goal — his first of the tournament.
While the win may have lifted spirits in the Atletico camp, it did little to change their fate. All three teams — PSG, Botafogo, and Atletico — finished level on six points, but it was the Spanish side that missed out on goal difference, becoming the first European club to exit the 2025 Club World Cup.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Atletico Madrid - Botafogo 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: Griezmann, 87 (1:0)
Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Galán J.; Lenglet; Le Normand; Gallagher C. (Griezmann, 46); Barrios P. (Molina N., 84); De Paul (Koke, 65); Llorente M.; Álvarez Jul.; Sørloth (Lino, 84); Simeone G-o (Angel Correa, 59)
Bench: Gomis Aleman; Musso; Azpilicueta; Kostis; Reinildo; Serrano J.; Witsel; Lemar; Riquelme R.; Martín C.
Botafogo: John Victor; Barboza Al.; Vitinho (Ponte, 74); Jair Cunha; Telles (Cuiabano, 65); Gregore; Marlon Freitas; Allan (Newton, 59); Savarino (Montoro, 65); Artur (Rodríguez S., 74); Igor Jesus
Bench: Linck L.; Raul; Bastos; David Ricardo; Kaio; Danilo Barbosa; Correa J.; Nathan Fernandes; Cabral; Mastriani
Yellow Cards: Gregore 95
