PSG and Chelsea clash in the final, and while form favours the Parisiens, the pedigree of the latter in similar narratives should not be overlooked...

There have been a lot of notions around the impeccable form of PSG ahead of their Club World Cup showdown with Chelsea on Sunday.

Les Parisiens have been crowned as the outright favourites, thanks to a blistering run of form since late last year, a period in which they’ve steamrolled every opposition and lifted every trophy within reach. With such dominance, it's no surprise many already see them as inevitable winners.

However, football has never been dictated solely by momentum. And if there’s one club that thrives when the odds are stacked, it’s Chelsea.

The peculiarity of this situation, a global final against a European juggernaut, is one they are built for. Chelsea has been here before. When they show up on nights like these, it often heralds the birth of one of their golden eras.

PSG may be the form side, but Chelsea carries something just as valuable, pedigree. Their history is rich with triumphs snatched from moments that seemed too big to tame.

That’s why, despite being underdogs on paper, they will not be pushovers in Sunday’s final. The world may expect a Parisian coronation, which may be the case, but Chelsea are capable of writing their scripts, just as before.

PSG Have Been Invincible: Catch Them If You Can

It’s like a new PSG emerged after a humbling night in Munich at the end of November, where a 1-0 defeat left them on the brink of Champions League group exit, and Ousmane Dembele got sent off for two bookable offenses.

Whatever Luis Enrique said to the players at full-time on the night, it has surely borne fruit and hasn’t stopped producing since.

Every opponent in the league, domestic Cups, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Inter in the UEFA Champions League. Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, so far in the Club World Cup, have suffered at the hands of the treble winners.

After ousting Arsenal in the semi-finals, they walloped Inter 5-0 in the Champions League final, winning the title for the first time and setting a record for the biggest final win in history.

It was that form the French club took into the Club World Cup. They've so far won four of five games, keeping four clean sheets and conceding just once.

Luis Enrique's charge has beaten all their European opponents in the competition, winning the three fixtures by an aggregate of 10-0. They have been that good. They have been that unplayable.

Beware, PSG, Chelsea Have Been Here

The form of PSG that makes them so unplayable at the moment is exactly what makes it more probable that Chelsea could go on and snatch victory on the night. It’s almost impossible, you say? Let’s bring you up to date.

Chelsea have played on the biggest stages in club football — from continental finals to the previous Club World Cup format. Interestingly, their victories have often come at times when the world least expects. It isn't even about the players. It's the club. They've repeatedly done so, one generation after another.

Granted, Manchester United had the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in their ranks when they clashed with Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final. But it was a balanced tie ahead of kickoff, and Chelsea had even won their most recent meeting less than a month earlier.

In the end, Chelsea lost an even game, one they could have won had John Terry put away a decisive penalty during the shootout.

Four years later, they went into another final against Bayern Munich, who were privileged to be playing in front of their home fans. Against all odds, Chelsea emerged victorious and claimed their first-ever Champions League crown.

Before that, they faced a prime Barcelona in the semi-finals. Pep Guardiola's charge had won two of the previous three Champions League titles and were overwhelming favourites. But Chelsea tore the scripts apart and left the Blaugrana in dismay at the end of 180 minutes, despite the adversities faced in the tie.

In 2021, they reached the final against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. In a season where they struggled for consistency, they delivered when it mattered most, defeating their more dominant opponents and shaming the odds.

The PSG's fairytale has been impressive, but Chelsea is very capable of bringing them back down to earth. The Blues have shown they don't follow scripts. They tear them apart, especially when least expected.

An interesting tactical battle between Luis Enrique and Enzo Maresca awaits. And whether it is PSG’s form or Chelsea’s pedigree that emerges on the night, one thing is certain: never rule out Chelsea in a final, more so when up against a seemingly better opponent.

So, while the world watches PSG, maybe, just maybe, it’s Chelsea we should be keeping an eye on.

CHE vs PSG Head to Head

Paris Saint-Germain have won three and drawn as many in eight meetings with Chelsea, all fixtures coming in the Champions League.

Chelsea, who won their first-ever meeting in September 2004, have won just one in seven of their most recent meetings with Les Parisiens, losing each of the last two in 2016.

Players to Watch

PSG: Ousmane Dembele 

Dembélé missed the early parts of the tournament due to an injury he suffered in the UEFA Nations League semi-final against Spain, but has since reminded everyone why he is the leading candidate for the Ballon d'Or award.

He came on as a substitute to score the final goal in a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, and led the attack with a goal and an assist in a rampant 4-0 semi-final win over Real Madrid.

He has already recorded 35 goals and 14 assists this season and will be eager to add another goal contribution in the final, as he has done in all the other finals for PSG this season.

Chelsea: Moises Caicedo

It is going to be a big night for the Ecuadorian, who has returned to training in preparation for the game after an injury scare in the final minutes of the 2-0 semi-final victory over Fluminense.

Moises Caicedo will be vital for Chelsea in stopping PSG’s fluid play, and if not at his best, all the efforts of the other players around him may prove ineffective, because he has been pivotal in shielding the defence and halting opponents’ transition moments.

It’s the biggest game for all the players on both sides, and for Chelsea, who will be playing against the odds, their chances of staying in the game will hinge on how well Caicedo copes with the relentless pressing of Luis Enrique’s team.

Chelsea vs Paris Saint-Germain Prediction

A final was filled with unpredictability. Both Chelsea and PSG have had their fair share of surprising outcomes in finals. Just in May, Chelsea ended the Spanish team’s invincible final record against English teams by defeating Real Betis in the Conference League final.

A few days later, PSG delivered a stunning performance against Inter, a team known for its strong defense, winning 5-0, and setting a new record for the biggest win in Champions League final history.

But amidst the unpredictability, there is an edge, and we believe it is PSG who have that, even though Chelsea holds the pedigree. As awkward as the situation is, the French club can also take credit for the fact that they've seen off so many teams with pedigree.

So, a PSG win is more probable. And we're going for a 3-1 victory for the French champions. But if Chelsea defies the odds, then we will not be surprised.