Real Madrid, currently under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, is set to face Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup this Saturday. These two prominent clubs have encountered each other numerous times in the past, including the 2024 Champions League final held at Wembley, where Real Madrid, then managed by Carlo Ancelotti, secured a 2-0 victory over the German side. Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham will not participate in the game against his brother Jobe, who joined Dortmund this summer. Jude is unavailable for selection after receiving a yellow card in the previous match against Monterrey.
Possible Lineups
Real Madrid XI: Thibaut Courtois; Antonio Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni, Dean Huijsen; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fede Valverde, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Fran Garcia; Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe
BVB 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 highly-rated French forward is anticipated to start on Saturday, having made his first appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup in the last fixture against Juventus following recovery from gastroenteritis. All attention will be on La Liga`s top goalscorer for the season, as this summer tournament presents Xabi Alonso`s team with their final chance to claim silverware before the new season commences in August.
Storyline to Watch
Is Xabi Alonso already making his mark? The Spanish coach is credited with quickly establishing a positive team environment since taking over from a manager as successful as Ancelotti. Alonso has rapidly demonstrated his tactical approach, but the key question is whether he can instill the potent winning mentality that was characteristic of Ancelotti`s tenure.
Prediction
Real Madrid is widely expected to progress to the semifinal stage, where they are likely to meet either Bayern Munich or PSG, ultimately aiming for a top-four finish in the Club World Cup tournament.
Predicted Score: Real Madrid 2, BVB 0
