Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has hailed Mamelodi Sundowns following their thrilling FIFA Club World Cup group stage clash.
Despite the Brazilians suffering a 4-3 defeat that dented their hopes of advancing, Kovac admitted the match presented exactly the challenge he anticipated pre-game.
This result sets up a compelling final round of fixtures. With Ulsan already eliminated, it's now a three-horse race for a spot in the last-16 of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, intensifying the drama for the concluding group matches.
‘I was not lying about Sundowns’
“I was not lying in the press conference yesterday, I said what I saw; Sundowns is a team that likes to play football – technically very well educated, you see the Portuguese coach, tends to play this game,” he said as quoted by iDiski Times.
“It’s easy to say on paper we are the favourites, but you need to first play the game, we did that and we saw how hard it was and I’m convinced, the next game of Sundowns, will be also very tight.
“Fluminense is a good team but from my point of view you can also challenge them, chase them and let’s see what happens in this game.”
Dortmund and Sundowns can still both progress
Dortmund's final FIFA Club World Cup group stage challenge will be a clash against Ulsan HD on Wednesday, June 25th, at 9:00 PM SA time, taking place at the TQL Stadium.
Meanwhile, Sundowns will also be in action on that same Wednesday, closing off their group campaign against Fluminense at the Hard Rock Stadium, also at 9:00 PM SA time.
Both teams still have their qualification hopes in their own hands.
However, Sundowns can only progress by beating Fluminense, while Dortmund can potentially go through with a draw against Ulsan.
If you are considering placing on either of those games, or indeed any game at the Club World Cup, then be sure to sign up with Betway first.
In terms of the current outright odds to win the tournament, Sundowns remain among the biggest long shots, while the bookies reckon their are 10 teams with a better chance than Dortmund.
