Borussia Dortmund eliminated by Real Madrid in FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals
Borussia Dortmund’s FIFA Club World Cup adventure was brought to an end in the quarter-finals following a 3-2 defeat by Real Madrid in New Jersey.
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Real Madrid 3-2 Dortmund Goals: 1-0 G. Garcia (10'), 2-0 F. Garcia (20'), 2-1 Beier (90'+3), 3-1 Mbappé (90'+4), 3-2 Guirassy (pen. 90'+8) Sent off: Huijsen 90+5'
Deprived of Jobe Bellingham due to suspension, Dortmund struggled to find their rhythm initially, although Julian Brandt did flash a header narrowly wide early on with what was BVB’s only real chance of the first half.
Real Madrid, by contrast, soon cranked into gear and took the lead after just 10 minutes when Gonzalo García volleyed in Arda Güler’s cross from the left. They doubled their advantage a short while later after Trent Alexander-Arnold got behind Dortmund’s defence, drilling a low cross from the right that Fran García stroked in.
Jude Bellingham could have put Xabi Alonso’s side out of sight with a fine run that culminated with his left-footed shot fizzing just wide of Gregor Kobel’s goal.
Vinícius Júnior could likewise have put the game to bed in the first half only to see his attempted lob sail well wide of the target.
Niko Kovač made three changes at half-time and they had an immediate impact, with BVB looking more courageous and adventurous in attack. Brandt and the lively Maximilian Beier both fired off warning signs from distance but their efforts did not seriously trouble goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
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Auerelien Tchouameni hit the crossbar from distance in response, but with time running out for BVB, the Spanish side went into game-management mode, retaining possession well and running down the clock.
There was still some late drama however, as first Beier managed to smash in a consolation in stoppage time, only for Kylian Mbappé to reply almost instantly with an acrobatic scissor kick to make it 3-1.
Serhou Guirassy then scored a penalty deep into stoppage time after being fouled, and Marcel Sabitzer had a fierce volley well saved with the last kick of the game, as Real Madrid moved into the semi-finals against Paris Saint-German on 9 July.
Match stats
Dortmund have lost just two of their last 15 games in all competitions.
Guirassy's four goals at the Club World Cup make him joint top scorer along with Benfica's Ángel Di María, Real Madrid's Gonzalo García and Al-Hilal's Marcos Leonardo.
Guirassy and Pascal Groß both made their 50th appearances for Dortmund.
Jude Bellingham made 132 appearances for Dortmund, scoring 24 goals. He was also named 2022/23 Bundesliga Player of the Season.
Real were Dortmund's fifth opponent from a fifth different confederation at this tournament, making them the only quarter-finalist to face sides from five different continents.
Real Madrid: Courtois - Rüdiger, Tchouaméni (Asencio 85'), Huijsen - Alexander-Arnold (Ceballos 67'), Bellingham (Mbappé 67'), Valverde (c), Güler, Fran García - Gonzalo García (Rodrygo 86'), Vinícius Júnior (Modrić 67') Unused subs: Lunin, Carvajal, Militão, Lucas Vasquez, Brahim, Youssef, Jacobo, Chema, Muñoz, Martín Out: Alaba (muscle), Camavinga (tendon), Endrick (hamstring), Mendy (muscle) Coach: Xabi Alonso
As it happened!
3 - 2
(2 - 0)
Madrid
FINAL
Dortmund
FIFA Club World Cup Quarter-final Quarter-final MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Full-time: Real Madrid 3-2 Borussia Dortmund
The Bundesliga side almost completed an improbable comeback with two goals in stoppage time, but Dortmund ultimately follow Bayern out of the FIFA Club World Cup at the quarter-final stage after a dramatic encounter in New Jersey.
A chance for an equaliser right at the end is stopped in superb fashion after a sharp drive from the Austrian was destined for the bottom-left.
90'
+ 8
Guriassy smashes in!
The Dortmund striker rifles the spot kick into the roof of the net - what incredible drama at the end of this match, do Dortmund still have time against ten-man Real?
Rüdiger fails to clear the ball and Beier takes it down well before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner to bring Dortmund right back into it with a couple of minutes remaining!
Güler has a fierce drive deflected behind. Five additional minutes are indicated, with Real Madrid on the attack.
89'
Chukwuemeka steers wide
Carney Chukwuemeka shimmies inside and curls a shot just wide - that's good ambition from the English youngster, but will it be too little, too late for Dortmund?
88'
Now or never for Dortmund
Time is running out for the Bundesliga side, with Daniel Svensson getting tackled in the box before Felix Nmecha fires well wide from distance.
Real play the ball around with ease once more and Modrić sends in a low drive that Kobel reaches down to meet and keep Dortmund in the game. The Swiss shot stopper stands tall to deny Mbappé moments later.
72'
Madrid back on the ball
Unfortunately for Dortmund, the substitutions appear to have boosted Real Madrid as they thread together an intricate passing move that leads to Valverde cutting the ball back into the box from a dangerous position before the Bundesliga side can clear.
67'
All change for Alonso
Former Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso makes three changes as he seeks to see out the two-goal lead.
Dortmund move the ball well again as Beier sends a slide-rule pass through for Svensson to chase - but the full-back can't quite reach it. Beier then has a shot himself saved by Courtois as Dortmund look to step up a gear.
58'
Brandt high and wide
The Dortmund playmaker has a go from the edge of the area but misses the target handsomely.
57'
Kobel out to collect
The Dortmund goalkeeper races out to defuse a dangerous through ball that almost sent Vinícius clean through on goal.
BVB bossing the ball
FIFA's stats show Dortmund have seen 52% of possession so far compared to 38% for Real Madrid, but the Bundesliga outfit have hit just four shots to Real's eight.
Bensebaini meets Daniel Svensson's corner from the left, but heads well over.
49'
Beier looking eager
Two of the half-time introductions, Beier and Felix Nmecha, combine on the left before Beier tries to work the ball into the box from the right. Daniel Svensson then wins a corner in a bright start to the second half for the Black and Yellows.
Dortmund start the second period with Niko Kovač making three changes at the break...
Kick-off!
Half-time: Real Madrid 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund saw their bold plans for the quarter-final torn apart by a potent Real Madrid attack. The Bundesliga side are left needing a massive second-half showing to remain in the Club World Cup - they did create a few chances in the first 45 but will need a lot more.
It has been better from a Dortmund perspective since play resumed after the cooling break. They take the ball forward, and Julian Brandt has a shot blocked.
Welcome break
The two sides pause for a much-needed cooling break. Dortmund are having to focus on remaining in this encounter, with Real continuing to attack after going 2-0 up.
Bellingham has the ball on the edge of the box, and it falls into the path of Vinícius, who cracks a shot in but Kobel is equal to it.
27'
Real playing keep ball
Dortmund have to chase the Spanish side on a sweltering afternoon as they zip the ball around now. Jude Bellingham is sent in on goal but slots just wide against his former club.
Dortmund trailing rampant Real
The men in black and yellow made a purposeful start and had a couple of early chances, but the Spanish giants' attacking movement and fine finishing has seen them race into a daunting early lead.
Trent Alexander-Arnold cuts a deadly ball across the Dortmund box and Fran Garcia is there to poke it in at the far post - Niko Kovač's side have it all to do now!
The Bundesliga side have looked undeterred at falling behind and continue to pass the ball around sharply - finding Karim Adeyemi on the left until he is crowded out by the Real Madrid defence.
12'
Groß has a go
Pscal Groß tries to get Dortmund back on level terms right away, but his drive from the right is saved well by Courtois.
10'
Dortmund trail
A goal had looked likely after an open start to the quarter-final, and it has come in Gregor Kobel's net as young Real Madrid striker Gonzalo reaches a cross at the near post to volley his side ahead in plenty of space.
Julian Brandt clips a header narrowly wide at the near post before Gonzalo fails to meet a good cross behind the Dortmund defence - this has been a lively opening few minutes!
5'
Solid Süle
Vinicius tries to dart into the Dortmund box from the left, but Niklas Süle was reading the run and gets in the Brazilian's way.
3'
Promising move
Julian Brandt threads a neat through-ball past the Real defence for Serhou Guirassy to chase, but the Dortmund striker is flagged offside.
We're underway
After a moment's silence in memory of Liverpool's Diogo Jota, Real Madrid get the fourth and final Club World Cup quarter-final started.
The Borussia Dortmund players are entering the MetLife Stadium one by one, which means kick-off is just minutes away.
PSG ahead for winners
In case you missed it, PSG beat Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich 2-0 in today's other quarter-final. It was a tense and close game, in which the European champions landed two late goals to progress. Should Dortmund beat Real, they would face PSG in the semi-finals.
Despite suspension denying Jobe the chance to face his older brother tonight, the former Dortmund midfielder has told bundesliga.com about his pride in his sibling following his footsteps, saying: "I'm really proud that the step at Dortmund continues for my family."
Dortmund v Real Madrid brings back instant memories of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final at London's Wembley Stadium, in which Dortmund had several good chances before Real ran out 2-0 winners. Four players who lined up that evening start today for the Black and Yellows in New Jersey.
No changes from Alonso
Real Madrid begin with the same XI that knocked Juventus out in the round of 16, with Kylian Mbappé on the bench once again.
Dortmund coach Niko Kovač has made two changes to his side following the 2-1 win over Monterrey in the previous round, with Marcel Sabitzer replacing the suspended Jobe Bellingham and Julian Brandt coming into attacking midfield for Felix Nmecha.
Julian Brandt was in confident mood ahead of BVB's last-eight showdown with Real Madrid in New Jersey. "We have a lot of respect for Real – but we also know that we can score goals because we’ve already shown that," the Dortmund midfielder said. "Anything can happen in 90 minutes – that’s how quarter-final matches are. And I believe Real Madrid has huge respect for us. They know we’re not coming here just to park the bus,” Brandt added.
The training-ground work is complete and BVB can now focus on one of the biggest games at the Club World Cup so far, a last-eight meeting with the record European Cup winners Real Madrid.
Niko Kovač on facing Real
"You can already see that Xabi is playing the same system as in Leverkusen. We're also seeing a similar intensity there as in Leverkusen – against the ball, after losing the ball, and with the ball. This obviously shows that Xabi is very confident in his approach – and he'll certainly reinforce this even more at Real Madrid."
"The Borussia Dortmund in this game will be more similar to the team I faced [as Bayer Leverkusen] coach last May than the team Madrid played [in last season's Champions League group phase]. They are different set-ups. Since Niko [Kovač] has come in, [Dortmund] have been in the ascendency and are competing really well."
It's certainly possible. If Dortmund beat Real Madrid and Bayern also get the better of PSG in their quarter-final on Saturday, then Germany's two representatives will meet in the last four on Wednesday 9 July in New Jersey.
BVB held their final training session at Inter Miami's complex in Fort Lauderdale on Friday before packing up their camp and heading for New Jersey. Their quarter-final meeting with Real Madrid will be held at the MetLife Stadium there, as will both semi-finals and the final, so it makes sense to stay in the local area to reduce potential travel time and effort.
Dortmund will be without Jamie Gittens for this clash, as well as the rest of the tournament, as the 20-year-old prepares to complete a move to English Premier League Side Chelsea. He has competed in just one game at the tournament so far.
Watch: Karim Adeyemi - "We have no reason to hide"
Karim Adeyemi on facing Real, Xabi Alonso, the Club World Cup experience and more.
Alaba misfortune
It's not been the best of times for the 10-time Bundesliga winner with Bayern Munich, David Alaba, at Real Madrid. The Austrian recently sustained a calf problem not long after the defender recovered from a knee injury and is expected to miss the upcoming quarter-final against his old Klassiker rivals Dortmund.
Gregor Kobel, Serhou Guirassy and Niko Kovač give their thoughts on Borussia Dortmund's FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final against Real Madrid.
1:00
Watch: Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga story
There's no question Alonso earned his shot in the Real dugout following a quite remarkable spell in charge of Bayer Leverkusen that included an unprecedented unbeaten domestic double in 2023/24. All told, the 43-year-old, who represented Real as a player, oversaw 140 competitive matches at the helm of Die Werkself, before returning to the Bernabeu at the end of 2024/25 to succeed Carlo Ancelotti.
Mbappé back
Kylian Mbappé made his first Club World Cup 2025 appearance against Juve. A second-half substitute following a stomach bug that forced him out of the group stage, the Frenchman is in line to start against Dortmund.
The only real blot to the copybook in Dortmund's win against Monterrey was Jobe Bellingham picking up his second yellow card of the tournament. The 19-year-old's now suspended against Real, meaning he'll have to wait to face brother and ex-BVB favourite Jude for the first time at senior level.
BVB also topped their section after drawing with Group F runners-up Fluminense but taking maximum points off Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD. Serhou Guirassy was the hero in the last 16, the Guinean's first-half brace securing a 2-1 win against Mexico's Monterrey in Atlanta.
Madrid are unbeaten after four games at the finals under new head coach Alonso. They were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by Al-Hilal in their opening fixture, before beating Pachucha 3-1 and Red Bull Salzburg 3-0 to top Group H. Youngster Gonzalo García then scored the only goal as Los Blancos edged out Juventus in the last 16.
Borussia Dortmund go up against Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid for the right to face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals. Stay tuned for match-build-up, coverage and reaction...