Varsha
On a sweltering Saturday afternoon in New York, Real Madrid booked their place in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals with a pulsating 3–2 win over Borussia Dortmund, thanks to goals from rising star Gonzalo García, full-back Fran García, and a stunning late strike by Kylian Mbappé.
The result sets up a mouthwatering semi-final clash against European champions Paris Saint-Germain at the same venue on Wednesday, while Chelsea and Fluminense contest the other semi-final.
⚽ Madrid Start Fast: Gonzalo and Fran García Strike Early
Xabi Alonso’s men came into the match full of confidence after knocking out Juventus in the Round of 16. Alonso sprung a tactical surprise by ditching his usual three-man defense in favor of a back four, and it paid off almost immediately.
In just the 10th minute, Gonzalo García, 21, ghosted between two defenders to turn in Arda Güler’s pinpoint near-post cross. It was the young striker’s fourth goal of the tournament, and his sixth in his last seven appearances for Los Blancos (FIFA.com).
Ten minutes later, Real doubled their lead. After slick interplay on the right between Jude Bellingham and Gonzalo, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low cutback found Fran García, who swept the ball home for his first goal of the competition.
🔥 Dortmund Rally Late But Mbappé Shines
Madrid were in full control for much of the match, with Bellingham, Vinícius Jr., and Aurelien Tchouaméni all going close. But Dortmund, coached by Niko Kovač, mounted a spirited late fight.
In stoppage time, Maximilian Beier pounced on a poor clearance to fire past Thibaut Courtois, making it 2–1. Any hopes of a comeback, however, were dashed minutes later when Mbappé, on as a second-half substitute, acrobatically converted another Güler cross with an overhead kick — his 44th club goal of the season (DAZN).
Dortmund did get a late consolation when Dean Huijsen was sent off for bringing down Serhou Guirassy in the box, and the striker converted the penalty to make it 3–2.
“Everything was under control… the last 10 minutes were kind of crazy. But overall, a good 80 minutes,” said Alonso to DAZN. “It will be a great challenge to face PSG next.”
📊 Key Stats:
- Gonzalo García: 4 goals in this Club World Cup, 6 in his last 7.
- Kylian Mbappé: 44 goals for club this season.
- Serhou Guirassy: 38 goals for Dortmund this season.
- Attendance: 76,611.
- Shots on target: Madrid 7, Dortmund 5.
- Possession: Madrid 57%, Dortmund 43%.
(Sources: FIFA.com, DAZN)
❓ FAQ: Real Madrid vs Dortmund — Club World Cup Quarterfinal
Yes — these teams met in the 2024 UCL final, where Madrid won 2–0.
He was still recovering from illness and building match fitness but made a decisive impact off the bench.
They face PSG in the semi-finals on Wednesday at the MetLife Stadium.
Maximilian Beier scored from open play in stoppage time, and Serhou Guirassy converted a penalty after Dean Huijsen’s red card.
Gonzalo García, Fran García, and Kylian Mbappé scored for Madrid.
📝 Conclusion
Real Madrid showed once again why they’re kings of knockout football, with young talent Gonzalo García stepping up and superstar Mbappé delivering when it mattered most. But defensive lapses late on showed there’s still room for improvement before their showdown with PSG — and perhaps another trophy for the cabinet.
Will Mbappé start against his former club and lead Madrid all the way to glory?
