The knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup continued to deliver surprises on Tuesday, as Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid booked their places in the quarter-finals, setting up a high-stakes encounter between two European giants.
This follows a dramatic turn of events on Monday, when Manchester City and Inter Milan — both considered favorites — were eliminated in shocking upsets. Al-Hilal edged out City in extra time, while Brazilian side Fluminense dispatched Inter Milan, signaling a strong showing from non-European clubs.
Dortmund Overcomes Monterrey 2–1 in Atlanta
At the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Borussia Dortmund edged Mexican club Monterrey 2–1 to punch their ticket to the next round.
Serhou Guirassy was the star of the night, scoring twice in the first half (14’ and 24’) to give the German side a crucial advantage. Monterrey responded early in the second half with a goal from Germán Berterame in the 48th minute, but Dortmund managed to hold off mounting pressure, including a near equalizer from Sergio Ramos.
Despite the win, Dortmund will be without midfielder Jobe Bellingham for the quarter-final due to yellow card accumulation. Coach Niko Kovac praised the squad’s resilience and called the upcoming game against Real Madrid “a bonus,” suggesting that a performance matching Tuesday’s could give them a real shot at an upset.
Real Madrid Narrowly Defeats Juventus 1–0
Meanwhile, in Miami, Real Madrid secured a 1–0 victory over Juventus thanks to a second-half header from Gonzalo Garcia — his third goal of the tournament. The match also saw the return of star forward Kylian Mbappé, who made his Club World Cup debut after recovering from illness. He entered as a second-half substitute to thunderous applause.
Manager Xabi Alonso expressed confidence in Mbappé’s improving condition and hinted he could be ready to make a bigger impact in the next match.
Quarter-Final Showdown Set for July 5
The quarter-final showdown between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid is now set for Saturday, July 5, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The winner will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for July 8 or 9.
For full coverage and match updates, visit: www.u.af
