Real Madrid held off a late Borussia Dortmund comeback to safe a dramatic 3-2 victory in a pulsating encounter within the Club World Cup.
Goals from Gonzalo Garcia, Fran Garcia, and Kylian Mbappe had been sufficient for the hosts, regardless of a late resurgence by the guests, with strikes from Maximilian Beier and Serhou Guirassy.
The recreation was Madrid’s from the beginning with each side displaying attacking intent. Dortmund threatened early by way of Julian Brandt and Serhou Guirassy, however it was Real Madrid who struck first.
In the tenth minute, younger ahead Gonzalo García opened the scoring with a composed end into the underside nook after a well-weighted cross from Arda Guler.
Just ten minutes later, Fran Garcia doubled Madrid’s lead, pouncing on a free ball within the field to fireside residence together with his left foot.
The 2-0 cushion gave Xabi Alonso’s facet extra confidence, and so they dominated possession for giant spells of the primary half. Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham each got here near extending the lead earlier than the interval, whereas Dortmund had been largely restricted to long-range efforts.
🏁 @realmadriden 3-2 @BlackYellow
⚽ 10′ @gonzalo7garcia_
⚽ 20′ @Frangarcia_11
⚽ 90’+2′ Beier
⚽ 90’+4′ @KMbappe
⚽ 90’+8′ Guirassy (p) pic.twitter.com/hbOpkBH8tG— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) July 5, 2025
At the break, Dortmund made a number of tactical modifications, introducing Maximilian Beier, Felix Nmecha, and Yan Couto in hopes of sparking a comeback.
Beier specifically made an instantaneous influence, forcing a save from Thibaut Courtois early within the second half. However, Madrid remained harmful on the counter, and each Luka Modric and Kylian Mbappe – launched within the 67th minute – examined Gregor Kobel with stinging efforts.
The drama actually started in stoppage time. In the ninetieth minute, Dortmund’s persistence lastly paid off as Beier fired previous Courtois, giving the guests a lifeline.
But their hopes had been dashed nearly instantly. Just one minute later, Arda Guler delivered an excellent cross that Mbappe latched onto,hitting a wonderful bicycle kick into the underside nook.
Still, the match had yet one more twist. In the 96th minute, substitute Dean Huijsen was proven a straight pink card for a foul on Guirassy contained in the field, conceding a penalty within the course of.
The Dortmund striker stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick into the highest left nook, making it 3-2 and organising a frenetic ultimate jiffy.
With Madrid down to 10 males, Dortmund pushed ahead in quest of an equaliser. Marcel Sabitzer had a golden alternative deep into added time, however Courtois as soon as once more proved to be the distinction, diving low to his left to maintain out the midfielder’s effort and protect the win.