Club World Cup: Atlético Madrid are only giants to fall on a day of thrashings

The UEFA Champions League winners continue to be on a roll. In a matchday full of goals, PSG managed to crush Atlético Madrid 4-0, a result that was too big for what was seen on the pitch. In addition, Bayern Munich put 10 goals past Auckland, while Botafogo sweated out a victory against the Seattle Sounders. Meanwhile, Porto and Palmeiras shared the points in the duel of future stars.

Paris Saint-Germain is still on its own. Two weeks after winning its first-ever Champions League with a historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan, the French side thrashed Atlético Madrid 4-0 on Sunday in the first highlight of the Club World Cup in the United States. Luis Enrique's side won with goals from Spain's Fabian Ruiz, Portugal's Vitinha, France's Senny Mayulu and South Korea's Lee Kang-in, the latter from the penalty spot.

In the ferocious midday heat at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., just outside Los Angeles, PSG dispelled doubts about their mental and physical freshness after the most successful season in their history by subjecting Atlético to suffocating pressure.

Argentine Diego Simeone's squad fell apart after Vitinha made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time. At the restart, their clearest chance was a goal disallowed to Argentine Julián Álvarez for a previous foul by Koke. "I can't blame the heat. We both played in the same weather conditions," acknowledged Simeone. "They have incredible players and that's why they have won everything."

FIFA thrilled with attendance 

From the stands, FIFA president Gianni Infantino watched with satisfaction as 80,619 fans almost matched the capacity of the century-old Rose Bowl, scene of legendary games such as Brazil's victory in the 1994 World Cup final.

This game near Los Angeles, where protests against Donald Trump declined in intensity on Sunday, and the nearly 61,000 spectators at Saturday's inaugural game in Miami, have tempered fears of a crowd pinch in this new competition.

Bayern show no mercy against Auckland

The second day had opened with what could be the thrashing of the tournament. Bayern Munich showed no mercy against lowly Auckland City, crushing them 10-0 in Cincinnati. It was logical result for a match between the German team, one of the favorites to win the tournament, and the New Zealand team, made up of far less notable players.

In addition to braces from Kingsley Coman, Michael Olise and Thomas Müller, there was a goal from Sacha Boey and a hat trick from Jamal Musiala. Bayern confirmed themselves as the team to beat in Group C, adding to the importance of Monday's clash between Argentina's Boca Juniors and Portugal's Benfica in Miami.

Botafogo sweats in Seattle

PSG moved to the top of Group B with three points, the same as Brazil's Botafogo after their 2-1 win at Seattle Sounders on the night.

The reigning Brasileirao and Copa Libertadores champions struggled to emerge victorious at Lumen Field, one of the few soccer-specific venues in this tournament, which mostly employs large football stadiums.

After a free kick, young Jair Cunha opened the scoring for Fogão with a header in the 28th minute. Before going to the dressing room, Igor Jesus increased the lead for Botafogo in the 43rd minute with another header connection. The second half was not as placid as the Carioca team wished. The home side scored the equalizer in the 75th minute with a header by Cristian Roldán and the visitors were left with nothing to do but hold on until the final whistle.

Future stars share the points

In another duel on Sunday, Brazil's Palmeiras and Portugal's Porto played out a goalless draw at New Jersey's Metlife Stadium, the future venue for the final of this tournament and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The clash provided a nice duel between two of the most promising players in world soccer: Estêvão, from Palmeiras, and Rodrigo Mora, from the European club. The Brazilian striker and the Portuguese playmaker, both 18 years old, shone especially in the first half of a game that ended with the scoreboard still tied.

With this result, Group A, completed by Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Egypt's Al Ahly, has four teams tied with one point.