Lionel Messi Set For Club World Cup Clash Against Former Club PSG As Atletico Madrid Eliminated

‎Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi will face a potential reunion with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, in the Club World Cup last 16.

‎Both sides advanced to the knockout round on Monday. Miami secured their passage after drawing 2-2 with Palmeiras, who fought back from two goals down to finish top of Group A.

‎They now face an all-Brazil clash against Botafogo, who lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid but progressed from Group B in second at the expense of the Spaniards.

‎Champions of Europe, PSG, topped the group with a 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders, setting up a clash with Messi and the surprise package Miami.

‎Goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez put Miami on track for their second win of the tournament, following their unexpected victory over Porto.

‎Palmeiras scored twice in the final 10 minutes at Hard Rock Stadium, through Paulinho and Mauricio, to secure their qualification.

‎Meanwhile, Suarez, Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Miami coach Javier Mascherano will face their former coach Luis Enrique, who led them to a treble while managing Barcelona in 2015.

‎”We’re talking about the champions of Europe. We know many of their players and their coach, who I was lucky enough to have coach me, and I’ve always said he is the best in the world,” said Alba.

‎”I will connect with good friends there but once the game starts, we will compete, try to beat them, and why can’t we do it? This is football.”

‎Mascherano said Miami’s progress had elevated Major League Soccer.

‎”It’s a historic night for MLS, because we are into the best 16 teams in the world. All of the MLS has to be proud of Inter Miami,” he said.

‎Portuguese side Porto and Egypt’s Al Ahly were eliminated after a thrilling 4-4 draw which was not enough for either team to overhaul Palmeiras or Miami.

‎PSG bounced back 

‎European champions PSG recovered from a surprising defeat by Botafogo with a comfortable victory in Seattle.

‎Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi scored on either side of halftime, helping the Ligue 1 side qualify as group winners.

‎Their progress was secured thanks to Botafogo’s late loss to Atlético Madrid in Pasadena.

‎”It wasn’t easy because the pitch was very different from what we are used to in Europe, so we couldn’t play with the fluidity that we like, but we adapted,” said PSG coach Enrique.

‎PSG top scorer Ousmane Dembele played no part for a third game running after travelling to the tournament with an injury.

‎Atletico Knockout

‎Atletico’s 4-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in their opener left them needing a big win against Botafogo to progress.

‎Former France international Antoine Griezmann scored the game’s only goal, lashing home a Julian Alvarez cross in the 87th minute to give Atletico a victory that ultimately was in vain.

‎”We’re frustrated that we didn’t qualify – we had six points,” Atletico coach Simeone said afterwards.

‎”At the end of the day, we were punished because it wasn’t enough.”

‎Atletico needed a two-goal swing and were upset at penalty appeals being turned down.

‎”I’ve never seen anything like it, to be honest, I think we should have been awarded two penalties,” complained winger Giuliano Simeone, the coach’s son.

‎On Tuesday, already-qualified Bayern Munich will face Benfica, while eliminated Auckland City takes on Boca Juniors in Group C, with one remaining spot in the last 16 up for grabs.

‎Later, Chelsea from the English Premier League will match up against Esperance Tunis, with the winners joining Flamengo, who face Los Angeles FC, in progressing to the knockout stage.