Real Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in a pulsating FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final clash at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 5, 2025. The high-stakes encounter, a repeat of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final, delivered a chaotic finish with a flurry of late goals and a crucial red card, ultimately setting up a highly anticipated semi-final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Spanish giants started the match with intent, establishing an early lead. Young forward Gonzalo García continued his impressive tournament form, opening the scoring in the 10th minute with his fourth goal of the competition, justifying his selection over Kylian Mbappé. Just ten minutes later, Fran García doubled Real Madrid’s advantage, expertly finishing from a precise low cross delivered by Trent Alexander-Arnold. These early strikes put Real Madrid firmly in control, heading into halftime with a comfortable 2-0 lead. The Athletic reported on Real Madrid’s early dominance and goal scorers.
The second half saw a more subdued period of play, with both teams making tactical adjustments. Real Madrid introduced key players like Kylian Mbappé, Luka Modric, and Dani Ceballos in the 67th minute, replacing Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, respectively. Dortmund also made changes, including a forced substitution in the 81st minute when Julien Duranville came off injured, replaced by Carney Chukwuemeka. Despite the changes, the score remained 2-0 as the game entered its final minutes, seemingly heading towards a routine Real Madrid victory. The Athletic’s live blog detailed these substitutions and the quiet period.
However, the match exploded into life during stoppage time, delivering three goals and a red card in a dramatic sequence. Maximilian Beier ignited Dortmund’s hopes in the 90’+2′, pulling one back with a well-taken shot into the far corner, making the score 2-1. Just two minutes later, Kylian Mbappé seemingly sealed Real Madrid’s progression with his first goal of the tournament, an acrobatic scissor kick at the back post in the 90’+4′, restoring the two-goal cushion at 3-1. ESPN’s match commentary and VAVEL’s live updates confirmed these late goals.
The drama continued as Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen was shown a straight red card in the 90’+6′ for denying Serhou Guirassy a clear goal-scoring opportunity inside the box. Guirassy stepped up and calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 90’+8′, narrowing the deficit to 3-2 and setting up a tense final moments. Huijsen’s dismissal is a significant blow for Real Madrid, as he will now be suspended for the crucial semi-final clash. The Athletic highlighted the impact of Huijsen’s red card and subsequent suspension.
The match, attended by 76,611 spectators at MetLife Stadium, showcased Real Madrid’s resilience as they held on for the victory. Having entered the quarter-finals with an undefeated record in the tournament, including a Round of 16 win against Juventus, Real Madrid maintained their strong run. Their triumph sets the stage for an eagerly anticipated semi-final against French champions Paris Saint-Germain, promising another thrilling European encounter in the FIFA Club World Cup. Fans can watch the tournament on platforms like DAZN and TNT in the U.S., and Channel 5 in the UK. Al Jazeera and DAZN provided details on the match and broadcast information.
