In a thrilling encounter at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Real Madrid edged Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on July 6, 2025 (Korean time), securing their place in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals. This victory sets the stage for a highly anticipated showdown against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the reigning 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League winners, who also advanced by defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 earlier the same day.
Real Madrid, under the guidance of coach Xabi Alonso, lined up in a 4-3-1-2 formation. The lineup featured goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal, and Fran García. The midfield trio comprised Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Arda Güler, with Jude Bellingham playing just behind forwards Joselu and Vinicius Júnior. Notably, Kylian Mbappé, recovering from a recent stomach illness, started on the bench.
Borussia Dortmund, coached by Niko Kovač, responded with a 3-5-2 setup. Gregor Kobel guarded the net, flanked by Ramy Bensebaini, Waldemar Anton, and Nicolas Süle in defense. The wing-backs were Daniel Svansson and Julian Ryerson, while Pascal Groß and Marcel Sabitzer controlled the midfield. Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt supported striker Serhou Guirassy up front. The anticipated 'Bellingham brothers' derby was absent as Jobe Bellingham was sidelined due to accumulated warnings.
The match began with a moment of silence honoring the late River Plate striker Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who recently passed away in a tragic accident. The somber atmosphere soon gave way to an intense battle filled with five goals and dramatic moments.
Real Madrid seized control early, with Joselu opening the scoring in the 10th minute. Arda Güler delivered a precise cross from the left flank, which Joselu expertly finished with a right-footed shot inside the penalty box. This goal marked Joselu's fourth in the tournament, elevating him to joint top scorer alongside Ángel Di María and Marcos Leonardo.
Ten minutes later, the home side doubled their lead. Joselu, after receiving the ball near the box's right side, passed to Alexander-Arnold, who sent a powerful cross into the box. Fran García made a timely run to slot the ball home with his left foot, pushing the score to 2-0. Dortmund struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the first half, ending the period trailing by two goals.
Determined to turn the tide, Dortmund made tactical substitutions at the start of the second half, bringing in Maximilian Beier, Felix Nmecha, and Emre Can for Adeyemi, Groß, and Süle. The changes gradually shifted momentum, and in the 92nd minute, Beier capitalized on a defensive lapse by Rüdiger, calmly slotting a low right-footed shot to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
However, Real Madrid responded swiftly. Just a minute later, Kylian Mbappé, introduced as a substitute, dazzled the crowd with a spectacular right-footed bicycle kick from a deep cross by Arda Güler, restoring Real’s two-goal advantage. In a touching tribute, Mbappé pointed to the number '20' on his jersey, honoring the late Diogo Jota.
The drama intensified in the 96th minute when Dani Carvajal was sent off for a foul inside the box on Guirassy, reducing Real Madrid to ten men. Dortmund was awarded a penalty, which Guirassy converted with composure, bringing the scoreline to a nail-biting 3-2.
Despite Dortmund’s relentless efforts and a last-minute volley from Marcel Sabitzer that was brilliantly saved by Courtois, Real Madrid held firm. This victory marked their fifth consecutive win against Borussia Dortmund, underscoring their dominance over the Bundesliga side in recent encounters.
Meanwhile, PSG secured their semi-final berth with a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Despite being reduced to nine men after two red cards to William Pacho and Lucas Hernández, PSG’s resilience shone through. Désiré Doué opened the scoring in the 78th minute, followed by Ousmane Dembélé’s late goal, sealing the win.
The upcoming semi-final clash between Real Madrid and PSG on July 10, 2025, at 4 AM Korean time, promises to be a de facto final. The match carries special significance as Mbappé faces his former club, and both squads boast a constellation of star players, making the encounter one of the most captivating fixtures of the tournament.
Real Madrid will need to navigate the challenge of Carvajal’s suspension due to his red card, potentially reshaping their defensive setup. Nevertheless, their strong midfield presence and depth on the bench provide optimism for maintaining an edge over PSG.
As anticipation builds for this high-stakes duel, fans worldwide are eager to witness which European powerhouse will advance to the Club World Cup final, set for July 14, 2025, at MetLife Stadium. The winner will face the victor of the Fluminense versus Chelsea semi-final, adding another layer of excitement to this global football spectacle.
