Serhou Guirassy’s brace helped Borussia Dortmund set up a mouthwatering quarter-final tie against five-time FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) winners Real Madrid on Saturday after beating Monterrey 2-1 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Match Report
CWC debutants Dortmund were unbeaten in their last 10 matches (W8, D2) prior to kick-off. That ongoing momentum helped Niko Kovac’s side take the fight to Monterrey throughout the opening exchanges, in what was their first-ever encounter against a side from Liga MX.
The difference in quality took just 14 minutes to result in a BVB opener, and Guirassy was the predictable agent of destruction, sweeping a one-on-one effort past Esteban Andrada after being put through on goal by Karim Adeyemi’s exquisite back-heel pass.
Not deterred, Monterrey were nearly level straight from the restart, as Jesus Corona’s cross-shot struck the outside of the post, before Nelson Deossa’s fierce strike stung Gregor Kobel’s palms.
Dortmund unsurprisingly came straight back at Monterrey, and Guirassy doubled up just 10 minutes after striking the opener, once again benefitting from the vision of Adeyemi and striking the ball into the corner of the net when through on goal.
The Guinean continued looking unstoppable, and was inches away from a hat-trick just after the half-hour mark, when he failed to connect to Jobe Bellingham’s delightful delivery across the danger zone.
Whatever was said in the Monterrey dressing room at HT worked, as they were back in it with just three minutes on the clock after the restart.
Having already netted twice at the tournament, German Berterame registered a potentially pivotal third goal as he headed home from close range.
Despite the introduction of the vastly experienced Marcel Sabitzer to try and stop Monterrey’s momentum, Kobel had to be at his best to prevent Corona’s one-on-one strike from sneaking in at the near post.
That wasn’t the end of Monterrey’s surge by a distance, and Dortmund’s struggles only continued as the game surpassed the hour mark in Atlanta, with Berterame seeing an effort ruled out for the most marginal of offsides.
However, even a late triple substitution that involved the attack-minded Lucas Ocampos and Roberto de la Rosa couldn’t help Monterrey force ET, as Dortmund ultimately survived a sub-par second-half showing to progress through to Saturday’s showpiece.
A potential bite of the Big Apple proved too much for Monterrey in the end, and a repeat of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final will now unfold in New York at the weekend. Guirassy ended what was a creditable showing at the 2025 FIFA CWC for the Mexican outfit, with a gallant exit coming after they went unbeaten throughout the group stage (W1, D2).
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Highlight from Dortmund vs Monterrey
14' GOAL! Dortmund 1-0 Monterrey (Serhou Guirassy)
17' Highlight from Dortmund vs Monterrey
24' GOAL! Dortmund 2-0 Monterrey (Serhou Guirassy)
28' Highlight from Dortmund vs Monterrey
30' Match Event for Dortmund vs Monterrey
34' Match Event for Dortmund vs Monterrey
48' GOAL! Dortmund 2-1 Monterrey (Germán Berterame)
55' Match Event for Dortmund vs Monterrey
60' Match Event for Dortmund vs Monterrey
65' Match Event for Dortmund vs Monterrey
71' Highlight from Dortmund vs Monterrey
79' Match Event for Dortmund vs Monterrey
91' Highlight from Dortmund vs Monterrey
Line-ups
Dortmund XI: Gross, Sule, Guirassy, Anton, Kobel, Bensebaini, Ryerson, Adeyemi, Nmecha, Daniel Svensson, Jobe Bellingham
Subs: Meyer, Sabitzer, Brandt, Reyna, Beier, Yan Couto, Ayman Azhil, Soumaïla Coulibaly, Filippo Mané, Ostrzinski, Cole Campbell, Duranville, Elias Benkara, Mathis Albert, Samuele Inácio
Monterrey XI: Ramos, Canales, Stefan Medina, Andrada, Jesús Corona, Oliver Torres, Érick Aguirre, Jorge Rodríguez, Germán Berterame, Gerardo Arteaga, Nelson Deossa
Subs: H.Moreno, Ocampos, Arturo González, Luis Reyes, Luis Cárdenas, Ricardo Chávez, Santiago Mele, Jordi Cortizo, Roberto de la Rosa, Alfonso Alvarado, Víctor Guzmán, Luis Sánchez, Fidel Ambríz, Johan Rojas, Iker Fimbres
itz_me_ojei
26
Jobe Bellingham will be suspended and will miss the match against his brother Jude.🥺
Africana
24
GIF link Here: http://www.goalgif.xyz/v2/live/matchGifs?match_id=54017357&language=en
itz_me_ojei
18
Sergio Ramos was THIS close from equalizing for Monterrey to potentially help set up a matchup with his former club Real Madrid. Dortmund win and will be the one to play Real in the next round 🍿