FIFA Club World Cup
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Real Madrid have completed the Club World Cup semi-final line-up with a 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium.
First-half goals from Garcias, Gonzalo and Fran, looked to be easing them into the last four, but there was late drama in second-half stoppage time.
Maximilian Beier halved the deficit with a lovely strike before substitute Kylian Mbappe restored the two-goal advantage with a superb acrobatic volley. Then Dean Huijsen conceded a penalty and was shown a red card for the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Serhou Guirassy stepped up and converted the spot kick, but Madrid held on for the victory.
Xabi Alonso's men will face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
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Real Madrid 3-2 Dortmund: Mbappe’s spectacular volley and Courtois’ save of the tournament in frantic finale
After the game, Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke to DAZN about his former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota.
💬 “Of course, first and foremost I want to send my condolences, my love, my thoughts and prayers to the family of a close friend of mine. It has been very difficult for me personally and the ones that knew him. Not just team-mates and friends and family but the footballing world. Some things are bigger than the game.
“It has been difficult but it has been heartwarming to see the footballing world come together to show their love and support to him and his family and obviously his brother as well.
“So, although it has been difficult it has also been a nice (reaction) from everyone, all the clubs and all the people showing love and support for what must be a mind-blowingly hard time for the family. I have been in and around him and his brother, his family, his amazing wife, his parents, his three children. So it is truly heartbreaking to wake up to news like that. It is something that you would never, ever expect.
“He was a very close friend. Somebody who lit up a room when he was in it. I shared a dressing room with him for five years, amazing memories on and off the pitch with him. It goes without saying that he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in our memories for the amazing man and player he was.”
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Fran Garcia scored just his second goal for Real Madrid today, finishing very nicely in the 20th minute and earning himself the Player of the Match award — here is what he had to say to DAZN afterwards.
💬 “I’m left with the positive feeling of reaching the semi-finals and how hard the team worked. Those last few minutes might blur the overall impression of the match, but I think the job was well done. I prefer to focus on the positives, and now it’s time to clear our heads because in three days we have another very tough match.
“The feeling of scoring is incredible. It’s something you dream about as a kid. I’m not as lucky as Gonzalo when it comes to scoring so many goals, but I think I’m finishing the season well, and anything I can do to help the team makes me happy.”
Waldemar Anton found positives to take from Dortmund's performance despite their elimination.
💬 "After we got the goal back, we tried to push for the next one. We never gave up — that’s a good character trait. The save at the end (from Thibaut Courtois) was incredible, I thought the ball was already in. We conceded the first two goals far too easily, and we showed too much respect for the opponent there.
"But overall, it was a special experience to be here at the Club World Cup. We take a lot of positives from it. With a little more luck, we could have gone through today."
Xabi Alonso was pleased with his team's performance for most of the match, but was unhappy with how they finished.
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Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain will meet for the 13th time in the semi-final on Wednesday. Of the pervious 12 meetings, Madrid hold a 5-4 advantage in wins alongside three draws.
Their most recent meetings came in the Champions League round of 16 in 2022, with Madrid advancing 3-2 on aggregate en route to winning the tournament. Both of PSG's goals in that tie were scored by Kylian Mbappe, who will now face his former team in the semi for the first time since leaving in 2024.
It hasn't taken long for Kylian Mbappe to open his Club World Cup account.
The Frenchman had never played in this competition until he came off the bench in the last-16 win against Juventus and he did the business off the bench today.
It was a superb acrobatic finish from Arda Guler's cross and one that was ultimately the match winner given the late Guirassy penalty.
Jack P.: Sure he makes contact but he already touched the ball and it was too far for Guirassy to reach. I can see why a penalty is given but it’s not a red in my opinion.
Eliza V.: What are the Madrid players whining about that’s a stonewall red. The entitlement is unreal.
Ben B.: When our players surround the ref, I feel embarrassed. I thought they were supposed to book anyone who isn't the captain?
The main concern regarding suspensions during the quarter-finals was players accumulating a pair of yellow cards. Three players will be suspended for Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain, and yet none of them received two bookings across the tournament. Instead, all three players – PSG's Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez and Madrid's Dean Huijsen – were all sent off today. Pacho for a reckless foul, Hernandez for violent conduct and Huijsen for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Both Madrid and PSG will have to rework their defences for the semi-final on Wednesday.
After Kylian Mbappe scored his goal in second-half stoppage time, he held up 20 with his fingers to honour the late Diogo Jota, who wore No. 20 for Liverpool before tragically passing away alongside his brother earlier this week.
In today's first match at the Club World Cup, Ousmane Dembele also honoured Jota with a celebration following a goal.
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Dortmund throw everyone forward when the game restarts following the goal. They somehow manage to create one last chance as Sabitzer lashes a shot towards the low corner, but Courtois comes up with a clutch save to preserve the victory!
That's the last kick of the game as the referee blows for full time immediately afterward. Madrid are through to the semi-final!
90+8' Real Madrid 3-2 Borussia Dortmund
Courtois guesses the right way but Guirassy beats him with a confident finish to cut Dortmund's deficit to one.
Winning 3-1 and in stoppage time you can never do that. First big mistake by Huijsen as a Real Madrid player, very important because his absence would be very important against an opponent like PSG in the semi-final.
Bad game to leave early. We have had two goals and a penalty so far in added time.
90+6' Real Madrid 3-1 Borussia Dortmund
After a second half that saw very little happen, everything is happening in stoppage time! Guirassy is suddenly in on Madrid's goal and Huijsen pulls him down. The ref immediately shows him a straight red card, meaning he'll be suspended for the semi-final!
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90+4' Real Madrid 3-1 Borussia Dortmund
Mbappe surely seals Madrid's place in the semi-final with his first goal of the tournament! It was some finish, an acrobatic scissor kick at the back post.
90+2' Real Madrid 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund have a bit of hope! Beier collects a loose ball in the box and fires it into the far corner of the net with a lovely shot. He doesn't celebrate one bit, nor does he race back to the halfway line. I wonder how much belief he has that Dortmund can find another goal in the closing minutes…
90+1' Real Madrid 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
Valverde forces a save from Kobel from a tight angle before Guler sends the follow-up shot wide of the target.
We're into five minutes of stoppage time here.