Real Madrid are set to face Borussia Dortmund in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarterfinals in a highly anticipated clash at MetLife Stadium. With Paris Saint-Germain awaiting in the semifinals, fans were stunned to see star forward Kylian Mbappe left out of the starting lineup.
Los Blancos entered the tournament as one of the favorites, but concern surrounded Mbappe after he was recently hospitalized with a severe case of acute gastroenteritis. Though the striker made a brief return in the match against Juventus, his absence from the starting XI has once again raised questions about his fitness.
According to manager Xabi Alonso, Mbappe will start on the bench for Real Madrid against Dortmund due to a tactical decision. The French international has not been able to reach peak fitness during recent training sessions, prompting the coaching staff to leave him on the bench. Young striker Gonzalo Garcia was selected to start up front in his place.
Alonso addressed the decision ahead of kickoff, highlighting Garcia’s impressive form. “It’s great to have Gonzalo delivering strong performances. Kylian is feeling better day by day, but he’s still not at 100%, so we made the decision to keep him on the bench with the idea of using him strategically if needed,” the coach told DAZN.
Mbappe, expected to make an impact off the bench
Gonzalo Garcia has emerged as one of Real Madrid’s standout performers in the Club World Cup, scoring three goals and registering one assist in four matches. While he’s made the most of his opportunity, there’s no denying the game-changing potential Mbappé brings—even off the bench.
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Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also weighed in on Mbappe’s situation. “Each player has his own game, but we also have to be careful with Kylian, who hasn’t trained much, is coming off an illness, and sometimes it’s better to have him on for the last 30 or 40 minutes rather than risk him getting tired too quickly because his body might not be at 100% yet.” he told DAZN
Courtois also compared the profiles of the two attackers: “Gonzalo is more of a box striker, while Kylian moves more on the wings, he’s fast and has a good shot. We have a lot of potential on the bench, and matches aren’t won with just the 11 on the field, but with everyone.”
