Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund: Historic Showdowns Before Club World Cup 2025
On July 5, 2025, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will meet at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey in the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals. It will be the first time the two European giants face each other outside of the UEFA Champions League. To understand the weight of this clash, it is worth revisiting five iconic matches that shaped their rivalry.
The First Semifinal Battle – 1998 Champions League
Their rivalry began in the 1997/98 Champions League season. Real Madrid, led by Jupp Heynckes, and reigning champions Dortmund both topped their groups. Madrid eliminated Bayer Leverkusen, while Dortmund squeezed past Bayern Munich after extra time.
The semifinal first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu is remembered for unusual drama: a broken goalpost delayed the match for more than an hour. Once play started, Madrid capitalized with goals from Fernando Morientes and Christian Karembeu to win 2-0. A goalless draw in Germany secured Madrid’s place in the final, where they defeated Juventus to lift the trophy.
Lewandowski’s Historic Night – 2013 Champions League
Fast-forward to April 2013, and Dortmund produced their most famous result against Madrid. In the semifinal first leg, Robert Lewandowski scored all four goals in a 4-1 demolition. Cristiano Ronaldo netted for Madrid, but it was merely a consolation.
Despite a 2-0 win for Madrid in the return leg, Jürgen Klopp’s Dortmund advanced to the final, their first since 1997. That Wembley showdown ended in heartbreak, as Bayern Munich sealed a 2-1 victory, but Lewandowski’s four-goal masterclass remains one of the defining individual performances in Champions League history.
A Close Escape – 2014 Quarterfinal
The following season, Madrid and Dortmund met again, this time in the quarterfinals. Madrid stormed to a 3-0 win in the first leg, appearing to settle the tie early. Yet the second leg in Germany nearly flipped the script.
Marco Reus scored twice in the first half, while Roman Weidenfeller saved a penalty from Ángel Di María. Dortmund pushed relentlessly, striking the post and forcing Iker Casillas into critical saves. A third goal would have forced extra time, but Madrid clung on. Carlo Ancelotti’s team went on to crush Bayern 5-0 on aggregate in the semifinals and later won the final 4-1 over Atlético Madrid after extra time.
Wembley Redemption – 2024 Champions League Final
The rivalry reached its peak again in 2024 when the clubs contested the Champions League final at Wembley. Dortmund, back in the final after eliminating PSG, Atlético, and PSV, were confident under Edin Terzić. Real Madrid, however, carried their trademark resilience after surviving RB Leipzig, Manchester City, and Bayern.
The match was tense for 75 minutes, with both sides canceling each other out. Then Dani Carvajal broke the deadlock, followed by a decisive strike from Vinícius Júnior. Madrid lifted their 15th European Cup, while Dortmund were left to reflect on another painful Wembley defeat, 11 years after their 2013 heartbreak.
Group Stage Drama – October 2024
Their most recent meeting came in the 2024/25 Champions League group stage. Dortmund stunned the Santiago Bernabéu crowd by going 2-0 up before halftime thanks to goals from Donyell Malen and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. Yet, in classic Madrid fashion, the comeback was ruthless. Antonio Rüdiger pulled one back, Lucas Vázquez equalized, and Vinícius Júnior completed a hat-trick in a 5-2 turnaround victory.
Although both teams advanced from the group, neither made it past the quarterfinals. Real Madrid fell heavily to Arsenal (5-1 on aggregate), while Dortmund exited against Barcelona after losing 4-0 in the first leg and winning 3-1 in the second.
Statistical Overview of the Rivalry
Over nearly three decades, Madrid and Dortmund have developed one of Europe’s most intriguing continental rivalries. The numbers reflect both Madrid’s dominance and Dortmund’s occasional brilliance.
Head-to-Head Record (All Competitions)
| Metric | Real Madrid | Borussia Dortmund | Draws |
| Matches Played | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Wins | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| Goals Scored | 31 | 21 | — |
| Longest Unbeaten Run | 6 | 3 | — |
| Top Scorer in Fixture | Cristiano Ronaldo (7) | Lewandowski & Aubameyang (5 each) | — |
Madrid have won half of the 16 encounters, while Dortmund’s three victories include some of the most memorable nights in their modern history. The scoring charts also tell their own story: Cristiano Ronaldo, with seven goals, is the fixture’s most prolific scorer, while Lewandowski and Aubameyang carried Dortmund’s attacking weight with five each.
The Quarterfinal Context: Club World Cup 2025
When the sides meet again on July 5, 2025, at MetLife Stadium, it will mark a new chapter. No Champions League stakes, but a spot in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup—a global competition designed to crown the best club on Earth.
Madrid, historically dominant in international competitions, enter with confidence after their 2024 Champions League triumph. Dortmund, meanwhile, are eager to prove they can challenge Madrid beyond European borders. The neutral American venue also promises a unique atmosphere, with fans of both clubs converging on New York in massive numbers.
Why This Rivalry Resonates
Few European rivalries combine history, drama, and contrast like Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund. Madrid represent continuity at the top, fueled by depth, star power, and an unrelenting ability to win decisive games. Dortmund, on the other hand, embody resilience and youth development, producing stars like Lewandowski, Reus, and now a new generation pushing the club back onto the global stage.
These dynamics mean that whenever they meet, narratives emerge that go beyond the scoreboard: redemption, legacy, and the constant test of whether Dortmund can topple Madrid’s aura.
