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2025 Club World Cup
Quarter-finals
Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, United States
Saturday, 5 July 2025
Kick-off is at 22h00 CAT
Real Madrid will look to take a step closer towards a record sixth Club World Cup title when they clash with Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals at the MetLife Stadium on Saturday, July 5.
Los Blancos are the most successful team in the continental competition, with their last triumph coming at the 2022 edition when they beat Al-Hilal 5-3 in the final.
Xabi Alonso has some of the biggest shoes to fill after he was appointed as Carlo Ancelotti's successor on May 25, having seen the decorated Italian win 15 trophies during his two spells at the Bernabeu, including the World Cup on two occasions in 2014 and 2022.
Alonso has made an unbeaten start to his tenure, recording a 1-1 draw against the Blue Waves first up before guiding Real to back-to-back wins over Pachuca (3-1) and Red Bull Salzburg (3-1).
The Spanish giants had to dig deep to get past Juventus in the round of 16 after Gonzalo Garcia's 54th-minute goal clinched a narrow 1-0 win in Miami Gardens.
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Dortmund are also undefeated in the United States after four matches as they kicked off proceedings with a 0-0 draw against Fluminense and followed it up with three successive wins.
Niko Kovac's side overcame Monterrey 2-1 in the round of 16, where a first-half brace from Serhou Guirassy (14' 24') set up a mouth-watering encounter with Real, who beat them 2-0 in the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League final.
Alonso is pleased that the players have adjusted to his methods in such a short time and he saw an improvement in their performance against the Old Lady.
"We have to do a lot with a little. We've only been together a short time and we're competing for big things. We had to adjust things and the guys have grasped this well," the Spaniard said.
"We were getting more and more in the opposition's half and we had to be patient. Unfortunately, we failed to find the second goal that would have given us the margin, but it's Juventus and we have to compete. We had to grit our teeth at the end.
"Defensive solidity and discipline are fundamental and something we've tried to transmit from the start. The lads are eager and willing and that's essential. They're keen to absorb what the people who have come from Germany are asking of them."
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Kovac acknowledges that Alonso's side are the firm favourites in East Rutherford, but believes BVB have a chance if they perform the way they did against Monterrey.
"We know we're underdogs. But this game still needs to be played," the German said. "This is a bonus for us, and now playing against the biggest team and biggest club in the world is a good challenge.
"We're looking forward to it but you have to play football for 90 minutes, and if we put everything onto the pitch, same performance as we saw today, I think that we will have a good chance."
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