Overview
Borussia Dortmund clinched the final spot in the Mundial de Clubes quarterfinals by defeating Monterrey 2-1 in Atlanta on Tuesday. The victory prevented Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos from reuniting with his former club.
Dortmund’s Victory
With a brace from Serhou Guirassy (12th and 24th minutes), the popular German side secured their place in the round of eight. They will face Real Madrid on Saturday in East Rutherford, near New York.
The Argentine-Mexican Germán Berterame (48th) narrowed the gap for Monterrey, whose loss prevented their captain from facing the club where he built much of his legend.
Monterrey, coached by Domènec Torrent, former assistant to Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, now represents the only Latin American team left in the tournament alongside Brazilian sides Palmeiras and Fluminense.
Guirassy’s Resurgence
The 29-year-old Guinean international, known for his 1.87-meter frame, had only scored once prior to this match against Mamelodi Sundowns (4-3 win). He found his form in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, contributing to Dortmund’s unbeaten run in Group F.
Guirassy, Dortmund’s offensive focal point and last season’s UEFA Champions League top scorer with 13 goals, showcased his prowess within less than half an hour, combining effectively with fellow German Karim Adeyemi to secure two well-executed goals.
Berterame’s Late Attempt
Monterrey, under Torrent’s guidance who previously worked with Guardiola at Bayern Munich, required a near-flawless performance to overcome Dortmund. However, they struggled in the first half, with their defense being bypassed and attackers failing to capitalize on goalkeeping Greg Kobel.
Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa tested Kobel twice with long-range shots, while Jesús “Tecatico” Corona was a constant threat down the left flank, even striking the post.
Encouraged by Monterrey’s Mexican fans, the team pressed hard in the second half. Berterame narrowed the gap with a header following a Tecatico Corona breakaway. Although Sergio Canales and Ramos nearly equalized, Monterrey couldn’t overcome Dortmund’s resilient defense.
Team Lineups
Borussia Dortmund
- Gregory Kobel (cap) – Goalkeeper
- Niklas Süle – Defense
- Anton Waldemar – Defense
- Rami Bensebaini – Defense
- Julian Ryerson – Midfield
- Felix Nmecha (Julian Brandt 71) – Midfield
- Pascal Groß – Midfield
- Daniel Svensson – Midfield (Marcel Sabitzer 55)
- Jobe Bellingham (Marcel Sabitzer 55) – Attack
- Sehrou Guirassy (Yan Couto 71) – Attack
- Karim Adeyemi (Yan Couto 71) – Attack
- DT: Niko Kovac
Monterrey
- Esteban Andrada – Goalkeeper
- Jorge Rodriguez – Defense
- John Stefan Medina Ramirez – Defense
- Sergio Ramos (cap) – Defense
- Erick Aguirre – Midfield
- Nelson Deossa (Roberto De La Rosa 84) – Midfield
- Olivier Torres Munoz (José Alvarado 90) – Midfield
- Sergio Canales (Lucas Ocampos 84) – Midfield
- Gerardo Arteaga – Defense
- Jesus Corona (Lucas Ocampos 84) – Attack
- German Berterame (Fidel Ambriz 83) – Attack
- DT: Domènec Torrent
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Sergio Ramos? Sergio Ramos is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Real Madrid and the Spain national team.
- Why is his reunion with Real Madrid significant? Ramos spent 16 years at Real Madrid, becoming a club legend and winning numerous titles. His potential reunion with the team during the Mundial de Clubes was highly anticipated.
- What is the Mundial de Clubes? The Mundial de Clubes is an international club football tournament organized by FIFA, featuring association football’s top club sides from various confederations.
- Who are the remaining teams in the tournament? After Monterrey’s loss, only Brazilian sides Palmeiras and Fluminense represent Latin America alongside Borussia Dortmund.
