Ahead of this 2025 FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final clash, we bring you our Real Madrid vs Dortmund prediction. Will Xabi Alonso extend his perfect start at the helm of his new side?
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Real Madrid vs Dortmund: Preview
Forget Kylian Mbappé. Step aside, Vinícius Júnior. And no offense, Jude Bellingham — but Real Madrid have a new fan favourite.
Gonzalo García’s stunning rise continued in Miami as his decisive header clinched a 1-0 victory over Juventus in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16.
It marked García’s third goal of the tournament, adding to his strikes against Al-Hilal and Red Bull Salzburg in the group stage. The 21-year-old, who bagged 25 goals for Real Madrid Castilla in the 2024-25 season, also assisted in the group clash versus Pachuca — making him the only player to contribute to a goal in every match his team has played at this year’s Club World Cup.
His most recent heroics came courtesy of a pinpoint cross from new recruit Trent Alexander-Arnold, registering his first assist since joining from Liverpool.
Madrid fully deserved their win, dominating the match with 21 shots to Juventus’ six and hitting the target 11 times — just three fewer than their combined tally from the group stage (14).
The win sets up a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown with Borussia Dortmund, who booked their spot with a narrow 2-1 victory over Monterrey in the Round of 16. Early goals from Serhou Guirassy in the 14th and 24th minutes gave Dortmund a commanding lead, but Monterrey clawed one back through Germán Berterame shortly after the restart and pushed hard for an equaliser.
Dortmund stood tall under pressure, earning praise from head coach Niko Kovač for their grit. “The first half was our best performance of the tournament,” he noted. “In the second, we battled to secure the win.”
Kovač’s impact has been undeniable. Since taking charge, Dortmund have recorded nine wins in their last ten outings across all competitions (D1) and 15 victories in 24 matches overall (D4 L5). That’s a stark contrast to the 10 wins from the 24 games prior to his arrival (D4 L10), highlighting the turnaround under his leadership.
Real Madrid have enjoyed the upper hand in recent encounters with Borussia Dortmund, winning their last four meetings — all in the UEFA Champions League — including a commanding 5-2 triumph in last October’s group stage.
This upcoming clash marks the fifth time the two clubs have met in a knockout round, with Madrid emerging victorious in three of the previous four. That includes their memorable win in the 2024 Champions League final. Dortmund’s sole success in this head-to-head history came in the 2013 semi-finals, when Robert Lewandowski netted four times in the first leg to help his side progress 4-3 on aggregate.
The match will also see Jude Bellingham take on his former team once again. The English midfielder has relished these fixtures, delivering an assist in both of his previous appearances against Dortmund — each time setting up Vinícius Júnior, including in last season’s Champions League final.
However, there won’t be a family face-off this time. Jude’s younger brother, Jobe Bellingham, will be sidelined after receiving a yellow card in the win over Monterrey, ruling him out of the quarter-final.
Real Madrid vs Dortmund: Head-to-Head
- Real Madrid Won: 6
- Dortmund Won: 3
- Draws: 3
Real Madrid vs Dortmund: Recent Form
- Real Madrid: DWWW
- Dortmund: DWWW
Real Madrid vs Dortmund: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Real Madrid – Team News
Xabi Alonso remains unbeaten since taking the reins at Real Madrid, leading his side through four matches and into the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup. After a shaky 1-1 draw with Al Hilal to open their campaign, Los Blancos found more stability in their 1-0 win over Juventus in the Round of 16.
Kylian Mbappé’s return to action is a major positive. The forward, sidelined through illness during the group stage, made his tournament debut as a second-half substitute against Juventus and continues to build match fitness. Despite his return, young forward Gonzalo García has been the standout so far — scoring three times and assisting once — and will be pushing to keep his starting place.
Defensively, Alonso may be tempted to shake things up. Veteran centre-back Antonio Rüdiger has looked off-colour, having started the last two games but appearing vulnerable under pressure. That could open the door for 20-year-old Raúl Asencio, who is available for selection again after serving a one-match suspension and could be drafted in to strengthen the back line.
Promising Brazilian attacker Endrick is also fully fit again, offering another option in the final third.
Real Madrid – Predicted Lineup (3-5-2)
- Goalkeeper – Thibaut Courtois
- Defenders – Antonio Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni, Dean Huijsen
- Midfielders – Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham, Valverde, Güler, F. García
- Forwards – G. García, Vinícius
Dortmund – Team News
Borussia Dortmund are out to end a string of defeats against Real Madrid, including a heavy 5-2 loss in the Champions League group stage and a 2-0 setback in the 2024 final. Despite those results, the German side are unbeaten in the Club World Cup, having edged past CF Monterrey 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
However, they’ll be without young midfielder Jobe Bellingham, who picked up his second yellow card of the tournament against Monterrey and is suspended for this tie. The absence means he’ll miss the opportunity to face his elder brother, Jude, in a competitive fixture.
Dortmund boss Niko Kovač admitted the timing was unfortunate but looked ahead with optimism: “Jobe is young, Jude is young — they’ll meet again, maybe in the Champions League. Someone else must step up now, and that’s fine.”
Marcel Sabitzer or Julian Brandt are the likely candidates to replace Jobe in midfield. Meanwhile, winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, is expected to miss out again due to illness.
Dortmund – Predicted Lineup (3-5-2)
- Goalkeeper – Kobel
- Defenders – Süle, Anton, Bensebaini
- Midfielders – Ryerson, Groß, Nmecha, Svensson, Felix Nmecha
- Forwards – Adeyemi, Guirassy
Real Madrid vs Dortmund: Prediction
With the depth and quality at Xabi Alonso’s disposal — now bolstered by Kylian Mbappé’s return to fitness — it’s hard to look beyond Real Madrid.
Mbappé provides a game-changing option if called upon, while Gonzalo García’s red-hot form offers a reliable edge in attack. In what promises to be a closely fought battle, Los Blancos should have just enough to overcome Dortmund.
Score Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
When and Where to Watch Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
Catch Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund and every 2025 Club World Cup Quarter-Final match live for free on DAZN from 1:30 AM IST on Sunday, July 6 at the MetLife Stadium, located in New York.
If you’re already a DAZN user — whether on a paid plan or a free account — the tournament is included in your subscription.
New to DAZN? Simply sign up with your email to create a free account and start streaming.
Download the DAZN app on your smart TV, smartphone, tablet, gaming console, or streaming device to watch anytime, anywhere.
Real Madrid vs Dortmund: Squads
Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Fran González, Sergio Mestre, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Lucas Vázquez, Fran García, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, Dean Huijsen, Youssef Enríquez, Jacobo Ramón, Diego Aguado, Raúl Asencio, Jesús Fortea, Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric, Arda Güler, Dani Ceballos, Chema Andres, Víctor Muñoz, Mario Martin, Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, Endrick, Gonzalo García, Brahim Díaz.
Borussia Dortmund
Gregor Kobel, Yan Couto, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini, Giovanni Reyna, Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy, Julian Brandt, Pascal Groß, Maximilian Beier, Julien Duranville, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marcel Sabitzer, Daniel Svensson, Niklas Süle, Julian Ryerson, Karim Adeyemi, Silas Ostrzinski, Alexander Meyer, Cole Campbell, Kjell Wätjen, Filippo Mané, Samuele Inacio, Mathis Albert, Almugera Kabar, Jamie Gittens, Soumaïla Coulibaly, Ayman Azhil, Elias Benkara, Jobe Bellingham
Head Coach: Niko Kovač
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FAQs
When is the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Club World Cup quarter-final?
The match is scheduled to take place from 1:30 AM IST on Sunday, July 7 at the MetLife Stadium, located in New York.
Is Kylian Mbappé fit to play for Real Madrid?
Yes, Kylian Mbappé has recovered from illness and featured as a substitute in the win over Juventus. He is expected to play a role against Dortmund, either as a starter or from the bench.
Who has the better recent record between Real Madrid and Dortmund?
Real Madrid have dominated recent meetings, winning four consecutive matches against Dortmund — all in the UEFA Champions League — including the 2024 final.
Why is Jobe Bellingham not playing for Borussia Dortmund?
Jobe Bellingham is suspended for the quarter-final after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in the Round of 16 victory over Monterrey.
Who could be key players to watch in this match?
For Real Madrid, Gonzalo García and Vinicius Jr. are the standout attacking threats. For Dortmund, Serhou Guirassy and Marcel Sabitzer (or Julian Brandt) will play crucial roles, especially in the absence of Jobe Bellingham.
