Club World Cup Player Ratings and Match Highlights

Real Madrid advanced to the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals with a 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening.

Within the opening five minutes, it became obvious that Borussia Dortmund were in for a tough match, particularly up against the pace and flair of Real Madrid’s left-sided players, Francisco Garcia and Vinicius Junior. In the 10th minute, the Spanish giants took the lead, and it came through a well-worked move down their left flank yet again. This time it was produced by Arda Guler, and beautifully finished by the man who can’t stop scoring at the moment, Gonzalo Garcia. Guler put a picture-perfect cross into the box, and the 20-year-old Spaniard guided his finish into the corner of the net with the side of his foot to give his side a deserved early 1-0 lead in New Jersey.

Francisco Garcia was arguably Madrid’s most lively player in the opening exchanges of the match, and in the 20th minute, the left-back doubled his side’s lead with a poacher’s finish. Just like their first goal, Madrid’s second goal was simple, but very well-worked. Trent Alexander-Arnold broke into space just inside Dortmund’s penalty area, and the Englishman fired a good low ball across the box, which just so happened to find his full-back counterpart, Francisco Garcia, and the left-back slotted it low and hard past Gregor Kobel to double his side’s lead.

Shortly after Madrid extended their lead to two goals, Jude Bellingham squandered a chance to put them further in front. The Englishman produced one of his trademark bursting solo runs, and he found himself in on goal, practically one-on-one with Kobel, but he couldn’t keep his composure and he scuffed his shot wide of the target.

The first half came to a close with Madrid holding a comfortable 2-0 lead and in full control of the match.

The second half didn’t get off to a flying start like the first did, but the match was a bit more end-to-end after the German side made three half-time changes. Dortmund started the second half well, but Madrid still maintained their attacking threat, and just after the hour mark, Aurelien Tchouameni almost scored an absolute screamer from distance. The Frenchman tried to guide his long-range shot into the top corner, but it smashed off the crossbar.

Despite Madrid looking in control of the match for the majority of the second half, Dortmund scored in the 92nd minute to give them hopes of a potential comeback. The goal was scored by Maximilian Beier, and the German fired his shot low and hard right into the bottom corner, leaving Thibaut Courtois next to no chance of saving it.

Just two minutes after getting their hopes up for a potential comeback, Madrid scored and went 3-1 up through a superb goal from none other than Kylian Mbappe. Guler was once again at the centre of Madrid’s attack, and the Turk lofted in a fantastic cross into the box and the French superstar produced an outrageous bicycle kick into the bottom corner to surely secure Madrid’s place in the semi-finals.

Just when you thought the match was done and dusted, Dortmund were awarded a penalty in the 95th minute after Dean Huijsen fouled a Dortmund attacker in Madrid’s box and was sent off. Serhou Guirassy stepped up to take the penalty, and despite being almost anonymous throughout the match, the big forward fired his penalty passed Courtois to give his side yet more hope of a comeback with the scoreline 3-2.

The last action of the match was as dramatic as ever, as Courtois, who didn’t have much to do during regular time, produced a world-class save to win his side the match. Marcel Sabitzer struck his shot perfectly, but the Belgian got down fast and produced an elite save which single-handedly secured his side’s place in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals.

Match Highlights

Real Madrid Player Ratings

GK: Thibaut Courtois – 8/10

Didn’t have much to do as he was protected well by his defence, but the Belgian stayed switched on and stayed solid when Dortmund took set pieces and put crosses into the box. Despite not having much to do in regular time, the Belgian produced an elite save in the 99th minute to win his side the match.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8/10

Provided a good assist for Francisco Garcia’s goal and was also very solid defensively.

CB: Antonio Rudiger – 7.5/10

Managed to keep Guirassy quiet as he matched him physically. Rudiger read the game well and was solid as a rock when Dortmund were driving forward and in attacking areas.

CB: Dean Huijsen – 6/10

Had some really good moments with the ball at his feet, but also managed to stay really solid defensively. Huijsen made several clearances and interceptions, which were key in keeping a clean sheet for his side. Although he had a good performance, Huijsen was sent off after giving away a late penalty.

LB: Francisco Garcia – 8.5/10

Started the match on fire and played a huge part in Madrid taking an early two-goal lead. The left-back played with plenty of energy, and every time he broke forward, his pace and trickery had the Dortmund defenders on the ropes. Despite being so good going forward, Garcia managed to stay defensively switched on and disciplined.

DM: Aurelien Tchouameni – 8/10

Defensively superb. While also putting in a solid showing in possession, the Frenchman was solid as a rock defensively and had lots of key moments where he produced big tackles and won plenty of aerial duels.

CM: Federico Valverde – 7.5/10

Had plenty of energy in the middle of the park, but also offered quite a lot in the build-up to a lot of Madrid’s attacking play.

CM: Arda Guler – 9/10 (Man of the Match)

A creative machine in midfield, particularly early in the first half. The Turk provided a great assist for Gonzalo Garcia’s opening goal, but he wasn’t just useful in the final third, he also worked very hard and did his fair share of defensive work. As well as providing a good assist for the opener, Guler also provided another great assist for Mbappe’s late goal.

AM: Jude Bellingham – 7.5/10

A big and positive attacking threat for Madrid. Although Bellingham performed well, he could’ve had much better end product as he squandered a very good chance in the 27th minute, which he probably should’ve scored.

ST: Gonzalo Garcia – 8/10

He can’t stop scoring at the minute. Garcia may not have had too much involvement in the match, but he turned up when it mattered. The Spaniard produced an excellent finish to put his side 1-0 up, and he was a nuisance for the Dortmund defence to deal with due to his intelligent movement.

ST: Vinicius Junior – 6/10

One of his quieter performances in a Madrid shirt. The Brazilian superstar started the match very lively, but didn’t really have any significant involvement in the match after the opening 10-15 minutes.

SUB: Daniel Ceballos – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Luka Modric – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Kylian Mbappe – 8/10

Despite getting just over 25 minutes on the pitch, Mbappe still managed to get on the scoresheet and he did so spectacularly, with an outrageous bicycle kick goal.

SUB: Raul Asencio – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Rodrygo – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings

GK: Gregor Kobel – 6/10

Made a few decent saves throughout the match, but there is nothing he could’ve done to stop Madrid’s goals.

RWB: Julian Ryerson – 5.5/10

Worked hard and pressed well, but defensively, he really struggled. Ryerson was overwhelmed early in the match and most of Madrid’s dangerous attacking moves came down his side.

CB: Niklas Sule – 5.5/10

Substituted at half time after a shaky first half showing. The big German wasn’t necessarily at fault for any of Madrid’s goals, but he constantly looked uncomfortable when up against Madrid’s direct and pacy players.

CB: Waldemar Anton – 6.5/10

Very good in possession of the ball and was relatively solid defensively despite being on the losing side.

CB: Ramy Bensebaini – 6.5/10

Made some good clearances and interceptions to prevent his side from conceding more goals than they did.

LWB: Daniel Svensson – 7/10

Posed a significant attacking threat for Dortmund, particularly with his crosses into the box. The Swede didn’t have that much defensive work to do, as most of Madrid’s attacking play came down the opposite side.

CM: Pascal Gross – 6/10

Didn’t have anywhere near as much creative influence on the match as he typically does. Gross tried his best to make things happen, but the intensity of the Madrid press stopped him from having enough time on the ball to make things happen.

CM: Marcel Sabitzer – 6/10

Worked hard in midfield but was quite sloppy when in possession of the ball and didn’t really ever get involved in the match.

RW: Julian Brandt – 5.5/10

Just like his teammates, Brandt tried to make things happen in the final third, but it just wasn’t his day. He was visibly frustrated and at times made selfish decisions in attacking areas, which hindered Dortmund going forward.

ST: Serhou Guirassy – 7.5/10

Kept very quiet by the Madrid defence. The big forward’s physicality didn’t cause many problems for Rudiger and Huijsen, and this kept him from getting involved in the match. Despite being almost anonymous throughout the match, Guirassy still managed to get on the scoresheet with a late penalty.

LW: Karim Adeyemi – 6.5/10

Looked bright during his time on the pitch but got substituted at half time. Adeyemi made some good runs and threatened with his pace, but couldn’t make anything significant happen.

SUB: Yan Couto – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Felix Nmecha – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.​​​​​​​

SUB: Maximilian Beier – 8/10

A real attacking threat with his pace and dribbling after coming on. Beier scored a superb goal in the 92nd minute to give Dortmund hopes of a comeback.

SUB: Julien Duranville – N/A

Was only on the pitch for 19 minutes before he had to be taken off after suffering an injury.

SUB: Carney Chukwuemeka – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.