Key events
The second half is underway!
Borussia Dortmund has made a handful of changes to turn the tide, down 2-0 in the Club World Cup quarter-final to Real Madrid. Let’s see if they can do it.
Half-time – Real Madrid 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
What began as a fairly even game was dominated by Real Madrid in the final 20-25 minutes, with two Garcías, Fran and Gonzalo, scoring their goals. It’s far from an insurmountable lead for Dortmund, but it feels like a tall task all the same.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time for the first half.
44 min: Real Madrid have done a great job staying compact in the later stages of this first half, giving Dortmund very few options on the rare occasions they are able to make progress into the final third.
39 min: Real Madrid come somewhat close to what would have been a spectacular third. After a Ryerson corner was gathered easily by Courtois, Madrid was near-instantly off on the break. Güler found Vini Jr in space and, with the goalkeeper off his line, the Brazilian attempted an audacious chip that didn’t end up coming all that close to going in.
The crowd, though, appreciated the effort very much (as did I).
37 min Yellow card is issued to Dortmund’s Pascal Groß for a rash challenge on Bellingham.
36 min: Fran García now contributing on the defensive end after his goal, doing well to block a shot from Julian Brandt.
35 min: Trent Alexander-Arnold has time and space behind the halfway line, and he uses it to find Vini Jr with a lovely lofted switch. The Brazilian soon has it taken away, but feels notable that even a move that doesn’t work out looks pretty good at this point.
32 min: We are back, with players having been sufficiently cooled.
While we’re here …
Readers – what do you think Dortmund needs to do to get back into this one? To me, it feels like it’s getting away from them quickly.
30 min: Cooling break! It is just hot enough here to merit a brief pause so players can take on some water and regroup for the final 15 minutes of the half.
27 min: A bit of magic here from Vinicius Jr as Real Madrid nearly adds a third. With “Olé”s ringing out in the stadium amid a sustained spell of possession for Real, the Brazilian runs on to a brilliant through ball and instead of taking charge, he dummies it to Jude Bellingham just behind. Bellingham’s attempt at a finish, though, left much to be desired.
22 min: Real Madrid have been absolutely clinical with their chances. Borussia Dortmund haven’t created much in the way of chances at all. That’s pretty much the difference here. It’s hard to see how Dortmund finds a way back into this one without a big swing of momentum.
Goal! Real Madrid 2-0 Borussia Dortmund (Fran García, 19)
Another García, another goal! Trent Alexander-Arnold provides the assist this time, moving into position on the endline before firing a cut that shot through a collection of bodies in the box and finding a perfectly timed run by the left-back, Fran García, of no relation to Gonzalo, who scored the opener.
It’s 2-0 Real Madrid.
15 min: Dortmund have not looked especially rattled since the goal, continuing to push the Real Madrid backline just as they were before, with both wingbacks moving up in the attack. One would think this will result in a clean look on goal eventually.
Goal! Real Madrid 1-0 Borussia Dortmund (Gonzalo García, 10)
First blood to Real Madrid! Gonzalo García continues his excellent Club World Cup with yet another goal, his fourth of the tournament. This time it’s Arda Güler with the assist, finding the young striker pinpoint service between defenders on the edge of the six-yard box.
It’s 1-0 Madrid.
6 min: The first solid chance goes to Dortmund. Daniel Svensson starts it with a run down the left, interplays with Adeyemi, and a cross in the box meets the head of Brandt, who is just too far inside the near post to put his effort on target.
5 min: Both sides have probed the other’s defensive third, but neither has had a great look at goal yet. Defenses doing well to shepherd attackers to the corners.
1 min: We are underway!
Team pictures have been taken, and it’s both teams in their classic kits: Dortmund in yellow, Real Madrid in all white. The flags are off the field. “The Business” is playing very loud. Let’s have some fun.
The crowd at MetLife is filling in, but slowly. I think this every time I’m here, but this stadium really could use a roof.
The sprinklers have ceased their sprinkling, and the numerous Fifa volunteers are on the field preparing to unveil very large flags. Kickoff is near.
Borussia Dortmund’s lineup
Niko Kovač has juggled his front five around a bit in the absence of Jobe Bellingham due to yellow card accumulation. Marcel Sabitzer comes into the team after starting the previous round’s 2-1 win over Monterrey on the bench, while Felix Nmencha is dropped with Julian Brandt coming in.
Goalkeeper: Gregor Kobel
Defenders: Julian Ryerson, Ramy Bensebaini, Niklas Süle, Waldemar Anton, Daniel Svensson
Midfielders: Pascal Groß, Marcel Sabitzer
Forwards: Julian Brandt, Karim Adeyemi, Serhou Guirassy
Again, the 5-2-3 is just how Fifa is listing this lineup. The reality will look much more fluid, with Ryerson and Svensson joining the attack at will from their respective wingback spots, and at least one of Brandt, Adeyemi, and Guirassy dropping in to support the midfielders.
Real Madrid’s lineup
Xabi Alonso sticks with the same starters that won 1-0 v Juventus in the last round to bring them here. Kylian Mbappé stays on the bench, which makes sense given the great form Gonzalo García has shown up top so far and Mbappé’s continued recovery from gastroenteritis, for which he was briefly hospitalised earlier this tournament.
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Dean Huijsen, Fran García
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Arda Güler, Federico Valverde
Forwards: Vinicius Jr, Gonzalo García
The 4-4-2 is how the XI is listed by Fifa, but one would imagine it will be a bit more fluid than that.
On the off chance you flipped on this match expecting to see an on-field clash between Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and his brother, Borussia Dortmund’s new signing Jobe Bellingham, well … I’m afraid have some bad news. Jobe’s yellow card in the previous game means he’s suspended for this contest – a fact he apparently didn’t learn until heading down the tunnel at half-time.
Dortmund manager Niko Kovač said there would be more opportunities for the siblings to face each other.
“He’s young. His brother is also young, so I’m convinced they will face each other, maybe next season in the Champions League, and then the future. The future is for them.”
Hello all, Alex Abnos here live on-site at MetLife Stadium for the final quarter-final of the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup – the (not) Bellingham Derby between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. It should be a great one.
Having just had a quick walk around the perimeter of the stadium, I can report that it is certainly warm – maybe even rising to the level of “hot”. But it’s nowhere near the heat experienced in the NY/NJ area earlier in the tournament. It’s a beautiful day, really.
Alex will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s Sid Lowe’s latest dispatch.
