Two of the biggest clubs in the world will face off on a hot afternoon at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey when Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund meet today in the Quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Madrid is here after dispatching Juventus 1-0 on Tuesday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The scoreline flatters Juve: Real dominated most of the game, placing 11 shots on target and finishing with an xG of 1.57. It was the goalkeeping heroics of Michele Di Gregorio, and his 1.30 goals prevented, that kept Juve in the game.
Dortmund advanced after overcoming CF Monterrey 2-1 that same day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. In some ways, Monterrey was the more dangerous side, placing seven shots on target and hitting the woodwork once. But they couldn't overcome Dortmund's quality: The Germans deserve to take the field at MetLife today.
Oliver Strand
1. No Bellingham Brothers matchup
Earlier this week, Club World Cup sickos were salivating at the possibility of Real syuperstar Jude Bellingham playing against Dortmund's new signing Jobe Bellingham. But before we could see the Battle of the Bellingham Brothers, Real and Dortmund had to win and advance to the Quarterfinal. And this tournament has shown us that there are no easy fixtures.
The squads did their job, but an early yellow card to Jobe in Dortmund's win over Monterrey means he will sit this game out because of yellow card accumulation. It's a shame. The 19-year-old joined Dortmund just before the tournament after helping Sunderland AFC win promotion to the Premier League, and he has been scintillating for his new club, scoring a goal and adding a game-winning assist in three starts and one appearance off the bench.
The global viewers will have to content themselves with watching 22-year-old Jude, who also has one goal and one assist in four games — and who played for Dortmund from 2020 to 2023.
Michael Battista
2. Madrid is Gonzalo García’s team now
For all the star power in the Madrid lineup, the team's key player right now is Gonzalo García. The 21-year-old backup striker has three goals and one assist in four games in this tournament, scoring the 90' equalizer against Al-Hilal in the Group Stage and the game-winner against Juventus in the Round of 16.
Not bad for a player valued at just shy of $1 million who spent most of his career at Real Madrid Castilla Club de Fútbol, the club's reserve team.
Megha Gupta
3. Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy rolls on
Dortmund's dangerman should come as no surprise to anybody who follows the Bundesliga — or geeks out on soccer stats: Serhou Guirassy's three goals in four starts in this tournament come on the heels of a 21-goal season in league play, good for joint-second place behind Golden Boot-winner Harry Kane. Add to that 13 goals in 14 UEFA Champions League matches and six goals for Guinea in four Africa Cup of Nations Qualification games, and you have one extremely impressive 43 goal tally in his 2024/25 campaign.
Just as important, he scores when it counts. Guirassy's goal against Mamelodi Sundowns FC in the 4-3 Group Stage win helped Dortmund to three key points, and his 10-minute brace against Monterrey lifted his team into this Madrid matchup. If Dortmund is to advance to the Semifinals, chances are it will be because Guirassy comes through once again.
Mark Radigan
4. Dortmund will be Madrid's first real test
When Madrid entered the tournament in Group H, it was thought they would coast to the knockout rounds: Al-Hilal, Red Bulls Salzburg, and CF Pachuca shouldn't provide much of a challenge to the 15-time winners of the UEFA Champions League. While Madrid won the group, it wasn't exactly a coronation.
First, they drew Al-Hilal 1-1, a result that now looks stronger after watching the Saudi Pro League upset Manchester City in the Round of 16, then, they tested Fluminense in last night's Semifinal loss. They then beat Pachuca 3-1 despite going down to ten players after an early red card, and rolled over RB Salzburg 3-0.
The 1-0 win over Juventus was as straightforward as they come: Madrid held the ball, created chances, and controlled the midfield. But it was also underwhelming. True, Madrid placed 11 shots on target, but they didn't always look coherent. Head coach Xabi Alonso's players looked less like the dominant squad that comfortably defeated Dortmund in the 2024 UEFA Champions League Final than the streaky team that was outplayed by Arsenal FC in the Quarterfinals of the 2025 edition of that tournament.
The Dortmund team that Madrid will face later today is somewhere between the Dortmund of 2024 and Arsenal of 2025. They most certainly won't be the Dortmund that Madrid beat 5-2 in the League Phase of the 2025 UEFA Champions League. This Dortmund is inconsistent but tough, and won't roll over easily.
Oliver Strand
5. The X-Factor: MetLife Stadium
Opta Analyst picks Madrid to win, giving them a 47.4% chance to advance in 90 minutes over Dortmund's 27.4%.
But we can't help wonder if the numbers take into account what it's like to play at MetLife Stadium, the 82,000-seat cauldron that just might be full — or at least fuller than before. Dortmund played at MetLife in the Group Stage when they drew Fluminense 0-0 (another result that looks better in hindsight), and they'll be familiar with the field, the setup, and the humid and swampy air.
Madrid loves to play on a big stage, and has a well-earned reputation for rising to the occasion. They'll want to impress in their first game at MetLife, and do what's necessary to remain in residency and advance to the Semifinals, which will also be played at the venue. But Madrid has looked uncomfortable playing in the heat of Miami, Charlotte, and Philadelphia. They were at their best when in the climate-controlled comfort of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. How will they cope with MetLife?
Just as important: Who will turn out to MetLife? Will Dortmund's fans show up in numbers, and bring the Yellow Wall to New Jersey? Or will Madrid supporters fill the seats with white jerseys, and take advantage of the enormous fanbase found in the large Latin population in the Northeast who have idolized Los Galacticos since childhood? One of these teams will turn MetLife into their home field, and that advantage could make just enough of a difference to get a result.
