(foto: Getty Images)
Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3–2 in a thrilling quarter-final. Mbappe sealed the win late, as Xabi Alonso’s side advanced to face PSG in the Club World Cup semi-finals.
Real Madrid are through to the Club World Cup semi-finals after a tense 3–2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the United States, with Kylian Mbappe making a dramatic return by scoring a decisive late goal.
Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, Real have been growing stronger with each match in the tournament. Against Dortmund, they started fast and dominated early, taking a 2–0 lead by the 20th minute.
In the 10th minute, Arda Güler picked apart Dortmund’s defense with a brilliant pass, and Gonzalo Garcia—one of the revelations of the tournament—slotted home his fourth goal in five games.
Ten minutes later, Trent Alexander-Arnold surged forward and squared the ball to Fran Garcia, who calmly made it 2–0. Real looked fully in control, while Dortmund struggled to create clear chances in the first half.
Though Dortmund improved after the break and pressed harder in the final stages, Real Madrid still looked the sharper side. However, drama erupted in stoppage time.
In the 92nd minute, Beier pulled a goal back for Dortmund. Then, in the 94th minute, Mbappe, returning from a short injury layoff, made his mark with a clinical finish to restore Real’s two-goal cushion at 3–1.
But Dortmund weren’t done. Serhou Guirassy converted a penalty just moments later to make it 3–2, sparking a frantic finish. In the dying seconds, Thibaut Courtois made a crucial save to deny Dortmund a stunning comeback.
With the victory, Real Madrid advance to the semi-finals where they will face Paris Saint-Germain, setting up a mouthwatering showdown between Kylian Mbappe and his former club.