Dortmund Players Prepare for Real Madrid Clash: Demand for Strategic Modifications - BVB pros advocate for strategic shifts before facing Real Madrid: proposed alterations in game plan
Borussia Dortmund, coached by Niko Kovac, is set to face Real Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals on July 5, 2025. The German team is preparing to exploit the attacking potential of their striking duo, Karim Adeyemi and Serhou Guirassy.
### Tactical Context and Dortmund's Approach
Dortmund has been demonstrating a strong offensive and defensive balance, averaging two goals scored and 0.8 conceded per match recently. Against Real Madrid's favoured 3-4-3 formation, which boasts an outstanding 91% pass accuracy and ball possession dominance, Dortmund must find ways to penetrate a very disciplined and well-structured defense.
Real Madrid's defense is notably more disciplined, with only two yellow cards in their last five matches compared to Dortmund’s eight, which may influence Dortmund to play a more cautious and calculated attacking game.
### Preference for Adeyemi and Guirassy Partnership
Serhou Guirassy, Dortmund’s key offensive threat, has already scored three goals recently and is considered a crucial figure for their attack in this fixture. Karim Adeyemi, known for his pace and ability to break defensive lines, pairs well with Guirassy’s physical presence and goal-scoring ability upfront.
The partnership of Adeyemi and Guirassy can provide a balance between speed and strength, allowing Dortmund to challenge Real Madrid’s backline by utilising Adeyemi’s runs to stretch Real Madrid’s defense and create space, and leveraging Guirassy’s positioning and finishing skills to capitalise on crosses and through balls.
### Tactical Adjustments to Support the Partnership
Dortmund may adopt a slightly deeper midfield block to absorb Real Madrid’s possession pressure while sparking quick counterattacks via Adeyemi’s acceleration on the wings. By focusing on quick transitions and direct play, Kovac could utilise Adeyemi’s ability to exploit gaps left by Madrid’s high defensive line.
Support from midfielders in delivering accurate balls to Adeyemi and Guirassy will be crucial, given Madrid’s exceptional pass accuracy and compact defense. Dortmund’s decision to persist with this partnership underlines a strategy aimed at breaking Madrid’s lines with sharper attacking plays rather than prolonged possession battles.
### Summary
Borussia Dortmund's tactical adjustments against Real Madrid will likely emphasise the Adeyemi-Guirassy strike partnership to balance pace and physicality up front. Dortmund will focus on quick transitions and precise attacking moves to disrupt Real Madrid’s possession-based dominance, aiming to exploit any defensive lapses with this dynamic forward duo.
Karim Adeyemi, Borussia Dortmund's national team player, prefers to play as a second striker alongside Serhou Guirassy. Adeyemi set up both of Guirassy's goals in Dortmund's 2:1 win against CF Monterrey in the Club World Cup round of 16. Guirassy also praises the understanding between him and Adeyemi, stating that their different approaches complement each other well.
Dortmund will fly to New York on Friday for the quarter-final against Real Madrid in East Rutherford/New Jersey. The match will take place on Saturday at 22:00 CET and will be broadcast live on Sat.1 and DAZN. However, it's worth noting that the quarter-final match between Dortmund and Club World Cup quarter-final will not be broadcast live on Sat.1 or DAZN, as the earlier bullet point mentioned a different match (Club World Cup quarter-final).
Dortmund played their best game of the tournament in the USA so far in the round of 16 match. Yet, they will have little time to practice coordination before the quarter-final against Real Madrid. Nonetheless, the team is confident and ready to face the challenge.
The Commission has also taken steps to ensure that its policies align with the objectives of the common agricultural policy, such as promoting sports, particularly football, and supporting European leagues to foster a more balanced and competitive environment for the game. This aligns with Borussia Dortmund's approach in the UEFA Champions League, where they emphasize a balance between speed and strength in their strike partnership, with Karim Adeyemi and Serhou Guirassy often providing the backbone of their offensive efforts.
