Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund to set up star-studded FIFA Club World Cup semifinal
Real Madrid continued to advance without many minutes from superstar striker Kylian Mbappe, but he netted a late insurance goal in a 3-2 decision over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday at MetLife Stadium.
Real Madrid will face Paris Saint-Germain — the current UCL champs and a 2-0 winner earlier Saturday over Bayern Munich — in the semis Wednesday in East Rutherford.
Fran Farcia (L.) celebrates with Gonzalo Garcia during the Real Madrid-Borussia Dortmund match on July 5, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
Gonzalo Garcia and Fran Garcia buried first-half goals for Real Madrid in the rematch of the 2024 Champions League title match, which also was won by Los Blancos by a 2-0 count.
Mbappe was listed as available as a substitute Saturday, and the French striker came on for Real Madrid to huge cheers in the 67th minute.
He also had entered in the 68th minute of a Round of 16 victory over Italian club Juventus after missing the team's three matches in the group stage of the tournament due to an illness.
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Before the match, the sides observed a moment of silence for Portuguese stars Diogo Jota and André Silva, who died earlier in the week in an automobile accident in Spain.
Gonzalo Garcia rewarded Real manager Xabi Alonso's confidence in keeping him in the Starting XI with his fourth goal of the tournament, a left-footed volley beyond Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel's reach off a cross from Arda Guler in the 10th minute.
Fran Garcia made it 2-0 when he made a run from his left back spot to get on the end of another cross for a one-timer about 10 minutes later.
Kylian Mbappe scores during the Rea Madrid-Borussia Dortmund match on July 5, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
Maximilian Beier finally got one back for Dortmund two minute intp stoppage time, but Mbappe restored the two-goal with an acrobatic, world-class finish two minute later.
Dortmund got a second goal in stoppage time on a penalty kick by Serhou Guirassy following a red-card foul in the box by Dean Huijsen.
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