From left to right: Felix Nmecha, Karim Adeyemi, and Serhou Guirassy. © APA/afp / JUAN MABROMATA

BVB players before Real Madrid clash: Call for tactical adjustments

National player Karim Adeyemi would like to continue playing alongside striker Serhou Guirassy at Borussia Dortmund instead of as a winger.

July 03, 2025

From: dpa

"I think we understand each other perfectly," said Adeyemi ahead of Saturday's Club World Cup quarterfinal against Real Madrid (22.00 p.m. CEST/Sat.1 and DAZN). "Playing with Serhou is great right now."

In the 2-1 round of XNUMX win against CF Monterrey on Tuesday (local time) in Atlanta, Adeyemi played as a second striker and provided the assist for Guirassy. Furthermore, BVB played their best tournament performance so far in the USA. In the preliminary round, Dortmund had previously played with just one striker and two slightly more withdrawn attacking players on the wing positions.

Adeyemi would rather “play around” Guirassy

"I know his strengths and he knows mine – it's working well, as we've seen," the 23-year-old continued after returning to the team's headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. As a winger, he always has to cover the flanks, while in the center, he can "just play around him a bit."

The two star strikers get along excellently. © APA/afp / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU

Guirassy also emphasized the good interplay between the two. "Karim has a completely different approach. So it's no problem playing two players up front," said the 29-year-old.

Kobel warns: Don't defend so high against Real

There were also calls from the team to play more cautiously against Real Madrid and not defend too high. Against Monterrey, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel had to make several desperate saves, as the Mexicans repeatedly posed a threat by playing balls behind Dortmund's last line of defense. "Real Madrid, of course, has other players. That can be very dangerous. We can't play so high because the gap would be too big," warned Kobel. "We still need to find a better mix."

It's a crucial match against Real Madrid's exceptional talent. © ANSA / MEGAN BRIGGS

However, there isn't much time to practice the coordination. After a session on Wednesday for the players who didn't play or only played briefly against Monterrey, Kovac gave his players another day off on Thursday. On Friday – a national holiday in the USA – the Bundesliga club will then fly to New York. The rematch of the 2024 Champions League final against Real Madrid will take place on Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just a few miles from Manhattan.