Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid will clash at Metlife Stadium today, with a trip to the FIFA Club World Cup Semifinal at stake. BVB will have to face the Spanish giants without Jobe Bellingham, making this one of Niko Kovac’s biggest tests as coach.
The last time Borussia Dortmund faced Los Blancos, they lost, and it cost them a Champions League title. Today, the stakes are not quite so dramatic, but still high: whoever wins will book a ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup Semifinal against either Bayern Munich of Paris Saint-Germain. That means a win would be a step closer to a trophy, not to mention millions of Euros in prize money.
Real Madrid should need no introduction. They’re the club whose voodoo in these kinds of cup competitions is notorious. They’ve got Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and of course, Jude Bellingham. Now, instead of Carlo Ancelotti and his bushy all-powerful eyebrows, it’s Xabi Alonso at the helm. While this star-studded club surprised the footballing world by failing to win a trophy last year, they’re sure to be right back in the running as one of the best clubs in the world this year.
Player to Watch: Kylian Mbappé
Real Madrid CF v Juventus FC: Round Of 16 - FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Photo by Martín Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Mbappé has missed a few games this tournament with an infection, but is reportedly healthy and ready to play against Dortmund. This will make an already difficult match even harder, because Mbappé is arguably the best player in the world. He led La Liga in goals last season, and probably would be a shoe-in for the Ballon d’Or if Real Madrid had been more successful this season.
Predicted Lineup
Unfortunately, this match will not feature the Bellingham-bowl. Jobe Bellingham received a yellow card against Monterrey, so he will be suspended for today’s match. Thankfully, the squad is otherwise healthy (other than more long-term injuries like Nico Schlotterbeck), so should look broadly similar to the starting XI against Monterrey. I think that Julian Brandt makes the most sense, with Felix Nmecha playing in a more defensive role. I liked the combination of Karim Adeyemi and Serhou Guirassy up front, so I would like to see that against from Kovac.
Your Thoughts
What lineup should Kovac choose? Do BVB have a chance against Real Madrid? What’s the key to the game?