Real Madrid, under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, are set to face Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup this Saturday. These two prominent European clubs have a history of significant encounters, including the 2024 Champions League final at Wembley, where Carlo Ancelotti`s Real Madrid emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline against the German side. A notable absence for Real Madrid will be Jude Bellingham`s brother, Jobe, recently acquired by Dortmund this summer. The younger English midfielder received a yellow card against Monterrey and is therefore unavailable for this match. Here is a look at the key aspects of the upcoming fixture:
Match Information
- Date: Saturday, July 5
- Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Odds: Real Madrid -190; Draw +330; BVB +430
Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid Predicted XI: Thibaut Courtois; Antonio Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni, Dean Huijsen; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fede Valverde, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Fran Garcia; Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe
Borussia Dortmund Predicted XI: Gregor Kobel; Niklas Suele, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini, Julian Ryerson, Felix Nmecha, Pascal Gross, Daniel Svensson, Marcel Sabitzer, Karim Adeyemi, Serhou Guirassy
Player to Watch
Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid – The focus will likely be on French superstar Kylian Mbappe. He recently recovered from gastroenteritis, making his first appearance in the Club World Cup in the previous match against Juventus, and is anticipated to be in the starting lineup on Saturday. As La Liga`s top goalscorer from the recent season, Mbappe is a central figure in Real Madrid`s pursuit of a trophy in this summer tournament before the new season begins in August.
Key Storyline
Xabi Alonso`s Early Influence: A compelling narrative is the immediate impact of manager Xabi Alonso. The Spanish coach has reportedly cultivated a positive atmosphere within the squad since taking the reins from the highly successful Carlo Ancelotti. While Alonso has quickly begun to implement his tactical vision, a key question is whether he can instill the same winning mentality that was a hallmark of Ancelotti`s era.
Prediction
Real Madrid is widely expected to progress to the semifinal stage, where they would potentially face either Bayern Munich or PSG, and are seen as strong candidates to finish in the top four of the Club World Cup.
Our Pick: Real Madrid 2, Borussia Dortmund 0
