MetLife Stadium, USA – Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso is eager to see how his new squad measures up against European champions Paris Saint-Germain after the two giants set up a highly anticipated Club World Cup semifinal showdown. Real Madrid secured their spot by defeating Borussia Dortmund 3-2 at the MetLife Stadium, just hours after PSG overcame Bayern Munich 2-0 in Atlanta. The Spanish and French powerhouses will now clash on Wednesday at the MetLife Stadium. The winner of this semifinal is widely expected to be the favorite to clinch the Club World Cup title. PSG, under the guidance of Luis Enrique, claimed the European crown after a dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final in late May, succeeding Real Madrid as champions.
Real Madrid’s Hard-Fought Victory Over Dortmund
Real Madrid initially appeared to be cruising to a comfortable win against Dortmund, with early goals from young striker Gonzalo Garcia and left-back Fran Garcia within the first 20 minutes. However, the match took a dramatic turn in stoppage time. Maximilian Beier pulled a goal back for Dortmund, igniting a late surge that saw Kylian Mbappé net an overhead kick, followed by a penalty from Serhou Guirassy after Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen was sent off.
Despite the late drama and Huijsen’s suspension for the upcoming semifinal, Alonso praised his team’s “very serious performance” but acknowledged areas for improvement. “We can do better… I will have a couple of hours of peace but obviously it is not good news to have lost Huijsen,” he stated.
Mbappé Pushing for Start, Gonzalo Garcia Shines
Alonso now faces a potential selection dilemma in attack as Kylian Mbappé, who came on as a substitute against Dortmund, pushes for his first start of the tournament against his former club. The French superstar is recovering from illness but is “improving every day,” according to Alonso. Mbappé’s overhead kick marked his 44th goal for Real Madrid since joining from PSG a year ago.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old striker Gonzalo Garcia has been a standout performer for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup, netting four goals in five appearances. His impressive form follows a prolific season with Real Madrid’s second team, Castilla, where he scored 25 goals. Alonso lauded Garcia, saying he “has the characteristics of a goal-scorer” and is “in the right place here.”
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac, despite the loss, expressed satisfaction with his team’s overall tournament performance, stating they were “too slow” and “not good enough” in the first half but improved significantly in the second.
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