Borussia Dortmund fans, breathe again! It was a night in Atlanta painted Black & Yellow, woven with equal parts artistry and agony, as BVB battled through fire and fear to overcome CF Monterrey 2-1, booking their place in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals.
Niko Kovac (at the press conference): “That was our best half at this tournament. I was very satisfied with the first period. We were sharp, we defended on the front foot and we put the opposition under stress. In addition to the two goals, we created two more huge opportunities for Serhou (editor’s note: Guirassy) from which we could have scored another one or perhaps even two. Then we would have taken in a very comfortable lead at half-time. What was then important in the second-half was that we fought to see the game through, with commitment and with passion. The opposition had possession of the ball but no great chances. We had a few problems with balls in behind the defence. But okay. The main thing is that we won. We’re now in the last eight, and that’s more than we could’ve imagined. For us and for German football, it is a big thing that there are two clubs in the quarter-finals. Real Madrid are a great team with many good individual players. We’re seeing the football from them that Xavi played in Leverkusen: very vertical and very quick. We’re looking forward to the clash but we know we’re outsiders. But in football, you have to play 90 minutes first. And if we put in the performance we did today, especially in the first period, we think we have a chance.”
From the first whistle under the cool air of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 31,442 fans were swept into a rollercoaster, their hearts thumping in unison as both teams threatened with every surge forward. Dortmund, brimming with confidence as Group F winners, wasted little time seizing their moment. The electricity was set off early—Karim Adeyemi, darting, daring, delivered not one, but two sublime assists within the opening 24 minutes, each finished with a slice of composure from Serhou Guirassy. The chemistry was undeniable: every pass, every finish, a testament to months of training and trust.
7/1/25 Dortmund players celebrating a goal against CF Monterrey. Mandatory Credit: FIFA/BVB Dortmund 7/1/25 Monterrey goalkeeper making a big save to keep his side in the game. Mandatory Credit: BVB Dortmund/FIFA 7/1/25 Dortmund goalkeeper making a big save to keep his side ahead in the game. Mandatory Credit: BVB Dortmund/FIFA
Guirassy’s brace sent the fans into raptures, yet the striker’s face at halftime revealed a perfectionist’s ache—regret for missed chances, hunger for more. He had the hat-trick in his sights, but fate, and Monterrey keeper Andrada, had other ideas.
Serhou Guirassy (to DAZN): “I think we had a very good first half. The second was slightly more difficult but we were mentally strong and won. We’re therefore all happy this evening. I think I could have scored at least three goals. But I’m satisfied. The most important thing is winning the match. I’m expecting a very tough game against Real Madrid. We’re prepared.”
Still, relief reigned at halftime. But the beautiful game never lets anyone rest easy—certainly not on nights like this. Three minutes after the restart, German Berterame’s header breathed life into the Mexicans. Suddenly, every tackle, every loose ball, and every minute dragged with the weight of expectation and nerves.
Gregor Kobel (to BVB TV): “It was a very good game from us in the first period. In the second half, it’s sometimes normal for there to be a change of momentum because the opposition have nothing left to lose. We conceded a goal early on but then kept going brilliantly until the end. We didn’t give much away – perhaps occasionally but I was then on hand. But I think that overall, it was a good performance from us. Now we have an amazing game against an outstanding opponent, who will definitely demand a lot from us. We’ll have to hold our own, step on the gas and fight – and then we’ll see.”
Monterrey pressed fiercely. The specter of Sergio Ramos hovered, as the legend’s last-gasp header in stoppage time soared just centimeters wide, prompting 31,442 gasps—and, for Dortmund, waves of bittersweet relief.
Niklas Süle (to BVB TV): “The stadium, the pitch, the time, and everything that went along with it was more the kind of thing that we’re used to. It was not as boiling hot as in the first three matches. I think that for the most part, we played our best game of the tournament. We were well prepared. In the second half, we no longer applied pressure on the ball and didn’t get out so well at the back. We had a bit of luck in one or two situations at that point. But we held our own well. Not everything is easy in a tournament. It is a great achievement to reach the last eight, especially when you also consider which teams have already been eliminated.”
The crowd rode every twist, a tapestry of hope and anxiety. Fans sang, fists clenched, scarves aloft. Niklas Süle disrupted attacks with sprawling tackles, Gregor Kobel’s gloves throbbed from stinging shots, and the tactical chess of yellow cards and late substitutions emerged as a battle within the war on grass. Jobe Bellingham’s booking—meaning he’ll miss the showdown with his brother Jude and Real Madrid—added yet another dramatic note to this opera of emotions.
Tonight was about more than numbers. It was about human courage, about the agony of almost, about hearts sprinting faster than feet. BVB’s ticket to the last eight was never guaranteed, but it was earned by grit, by grace, by the roar of Atlanta’s faithful echoing out into the night.
And now? Madrid awaits. The journey continues. The passion only builds.
Game Stats and Lineup
FIFA Club World Cup round of 16
Tuesday 1 July 2025, 21:00 local time
BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-1 (2-0) CF MONTERREY
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Süle, Anton, Bensebaini – Ryerson, Groß, Nmecha (Brandt, 71), Svensson – Adeyemi (Couto, 71), Bellingham (Sabitzer, 55) – Guirassy
CF Monterrey: Andrada – Medina, Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos – Aguirre, Deossa, Oliver (de la Rosa, 84), Arteaga – Canales (Alvarado, 90), Berterame (Ambriz, 84) – Corona (Ocampos, 84)
Substitutes: Meyer, Ostrzinski, Benkara, Coulibaly, Mané, Azhil, Campbell, Reyna, Albert, Beier, Duranville, Inacio – Cardenas, Mele, Chavez, Gustavo Sanchez, Guzman, Moreno, Reyes, Fimbres, Gonzalez, Rojas, Cortizo
Goals: 1-0 Guirassy (Adeyemi, 14), 2-0 Guirassy (Adeyemi, 24), 2-1 Berterame (Aguirre, 48)
Corners: 3-5, shot count: 6-14
Referee: Tello (Argentina), yellow cards: Bellingham, Guirassy
Attendance: 31,442 in Atlanta, weather: dry, 25 degrees
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