PSG dealt double blow as defenders ruled out of rest of Club World Cup ahead of semi-final showdown against Real Madrid while Dean Huijsen avoids tournament-ending ban

PSG have been handed a double blow in their ambitions to lift the maiden iteration of the revamped Club World Cup, with defensive duo Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez set to miss the remainder of the competition due to suspension.

Pacho was sent off in the 82nd minute of PSG's 2-0 quarter-final win over Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup after a nasty challenge on Leon Goretzka. Hernandez followed suit, receiving his marching orders in stoppage time for elbowing Raphael Guerreiro in the face. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has announced that both players have been suspended for two matches for violating Article 14, paragraph 1(e) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. That means that in addition to missing the semi-final against Real Madrid, Pacho and Hernandez will also serve suspension in the final, should they advance.

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While PSG's defensive duo will miss the rest of the competition, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee have opted to hand just a one-match ban to Real Madrid centre-back Dean Huijsen, who was sent off following his challenge on Serhou Guirassy in stoppage time during Madrid's 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund. The 20-year-old's absence, though, could prove to be a major setback against the high-flying Les Parisiens in the semi-final, having proven himself to be the most reliable defender in the early phase of head coach Xabi Alonso's tenure.

PSG and Real Madrid will square off at New York's MetLife Stadium on Wednesday in the semi-final. The winner of this tie will face either Chelsea or Fluminense in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday.