Real Madrid 3-2 Borussia Dortmund (García, García & Mbappé). PSG next… Here is an immediate reaction to the performance and the late madness. In the queue: Player ratings, interview quotes and a ManagingMadrid podcast.
Everyone else had already taken their spots in the semi-finals, and it was down to Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund to confirm the last four. Gonzalo García would be key to this, and started up front. Fede Valverde captained the team. A minutes silence was observed to commemorate the tragically short lives of André Silva and Diogo Jota.
Dortmund created the first chance, but Real Madrid quickly took control of the game. Gonzalo García activated his cheat code to put Real Madrid 1-0 ahead, meeting a cross to accurately find the top corner. The youngster will be promoted to the first team full time after the tournament’s conclusion. The very impressive Fran García would then make it two, finding himself at the end of another Trent Alexander-Arnold low cross. An impressive half saw Los Blancos lead by two goals, and stamp a foot into that semi-final.
OFFICIAL: Gonzalo García has been promoted to the Real Madrid first team mid-game against Borussia Dortmund, because the kid cannot stop scoring… How good is this guy? pic.twitter.com/fdWWSLRZYc
— Real Madrid Castilla Stats (@CastillaStats) July 5, 2025
Madrid continued to coast in the second half, despite the lack of goals. Vinicíus Júnior should have made it three, but the most important thing as that Real Madrid dominated in every aspect, and completely neutralised the German’s in a way that fans may struggled to comprehend just a few months ago… Thibaut Courtois did get a low test, but ensured the score-line would not get interesting. Xabi Alonso made plenty of changes in the closing stages, changing the course of the game slightly as Dortmund managed to score a late goal. If Madrid fans thought things may get awkward though, they were kind of right. With seconds to spare, Kylian Mbappé scored an acrobatic effort to make it 3-1, before Dortmund attacked straight from kick-off – and Dean Huijsen was sent off for pulling a player back. The penalty was scored, and Dortmund had an unknown amount of time to push for an equaliser. They got that golden chance, and Thibaut Courtois became the hero with a world class low save with the final kick to send his side to the semi-finals of the club World Cup. 3-2 in the end, and it will be PSG standing in their way of another final. Can they win this thing?
