Borussia Dortmund and Ulsan HD are set to clash in their final match of the FIFA Club World Cup group stage on Wednesday. The German giants currently occupy second place in Group F with four points, level with leaders Fluminense but trailing on goal difference. Dortmund started their campaign with a goalless draw against Fluminense before securing a thrilling 4-3 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday. A win or a draw against Ulsan will guarantee their progression to the next round, and they might even advance with a loss depending on other results.
In stark contrast, Ulsan`s journey in the tournament is already over. The South Korean side sits at the bottom of Group F with zero points after suffering two defeats. They lost their opening match 1-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns and were subsequently defeated 4-2 by Fluminense on Saturday.
Match Details & Odds
- Date: Wednesday, June 25
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: TQL Stadium — Cincinnati, Ohio
- Odds (via Caesars Sportsbook): BVB -120; Draw +625; Ulsan HD +1300
Predicted Lineups
BVB XI: Kobel; Sule, Anton, Bensebaini; Couto, Nmecha, Gross, Svensson; Bellingham, Brandt; Guirassy.
Ulsan HD XI: Jo; Trojak, Kim, Jung; Kang, Ko, Bojanic, Lee, Ludwigson; Lacava, Farias
Player to Watch
Jobe Bellingham, BVB — Expectations are high for Jobe Bellingham following his summer transfer to Borussia Dortmund from Sunderland. He recently marked his arrival with his first goal for the German club against Mamelodi Sundowns, hinting at the potential he possesses. Bellingham is a player to keep a close eye on in this match and could emerge as a notable figure after making his debut for his new team in the Club World Cup.
Storyline to Watch
Can Ulsan avoid a third straight defeat? Having lost their first two games, Ulsan HD from South Korea will be desperate to end their tournament without a third loss. However, their performance statistics from the first two matches paint a difficult picture: they averaged only 31% possession and were outshot 39 to 19. Furthermore, Ulsan completed a combined total of just 492 passes across both games, a number lower than what either Mamelodi Sundowns (659) or Fluminense (589) managed in their individual matches against Ulsan. This highlights the challenges they face.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund are strong favorites and are expected to secure the win needed to qualify for the next stage. Given Ulsan`s struggles, even a defeat might see Dortmund through, but they will aim for a positive result.
Pick: BVB 2, Ulsan HD 0.
