Lucas Ribeiro shone in Mamelodi Sundowns’ opening match victory over Ulsan HD, setting up Iqraam Rayners for what turned out to be the winning goal. Ribeiro crafted three chances during the game, completed more dribbles than any other player on the pitch (4), and took two shots.  

Ribeiro finished the 24/25 domestic season as Mamelodi’s top scorer in the Premier Soccer League, with 16 goals in 27 appearances. He registered 73 shots across those matches (3.18 per 90), a record that indicates he could pose a threat to Dortmund, particularly after his standout display in the tournament’s first fixture.  

Dortmund allowed Fluminense 14 shots in their opening Club World Cup match and appeared somewhat sluggish at times, which is understandable given the tournament is taking place at the end of a long season. 

Sundowns should take confidence from their performance in the first game to challenge Dortmund in the final third through Ribeiro, in what is likely to be their toughest test of the competition.

Nmecha committed 22 fouls across his 19 starts for Dortmund during the 24/25 Bundesliga season (1.31 per 90). His primary role in this Dortmund side is to act as the enforcer in midfield, allowing teammates such as Sabitzer to push forward into the final third.  

We could see Nmecha’s foul average rise in this match, as he may find himself outnumbered at times against Mamelodi Sundowns, who often deploy a three man midfield. This could leave Dortmund exposed in central areas as Niko Kovac has been playing with just the two players in the middle of the park in his 3-4-3 system. 

Nmecha has committed two or more fouls in four of his last eight appearances for Dortmund, including where Nmecha has come off and the player coming on has committed a foul (Super Sub), which is another factor to consider here.

Dortmund may have found their opening game against Fluminense quite difficult but that was always going to be the toughest game in the group on paper and they should now have the ability to kick on and get their first win of the competition against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The South African side are used to being the dominant force in games but will have to settle for a more measured performance here as Dortmund have the quality to pick them off if they are too expansive. The Sundowns will

carry an attacking threat but may struggle to convert chances, only two of the 14 shots they had against Ulsan in their opening game found the target.

Dortmund have improved under Niko Kovac since he took over from Nuri Sahin midway through the 24/25 season and although we didn’t see this improvement in the first game, we should see a more complete performance here against a side that really have to beat if they want to top this group as many expected they would before a ball was kicked. 

Guirassy was relatively quiet in Dortmund’s opening match of the tournament against Fluminense but will be aiming to make a stronger impact as the competition progresses. While he struggled to find opportunities in that game, much of that could be attributed to Fluminense’s determined defensive performance, which limited Dortmund’s attacking threat. Guirassy will be looking for improved service from his teammates in this match, as he remains one of Dortmund’s most lethal finishers.  

The striker enjoyed an outstanding 24/25 season, netting 34 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions. Notably, 13 of those came in the Champions League, where he finished as joint top scorer alongside Raphinha. His ability to deliver in big games makes him a constant danger, and Dortmund will rely on him to lead their attack against Mamelodi Sundowns.  

In the opening fixture, Guirassy managed just 27 touches and failed to register a single shot, an unusually subdued performance by his standards. However, his movement and positioning often create space for others, and if Dortmund can supply him more effectively, he could exploit any defensive lapses. Given his clinical finishing, even half a chance could be enough for him to make the difference. With Mamelodi Sundowns likely to adopt an organised defensive approach, Guirassy’s intelligence in the box could prove crucial in breaking them down.  

Dortmund’s midfielders, particularly Sabitzer and Brandt, will need to be more precise in their distribution to ensure Guirassy receives the service he thrives on. If they can do that, his goal threat could be the key to unlocking a stubborn Sundowns backline. After a slow start, this match presents the perfect opportunity for him to announce himself in the tournament.

Mamelodi Sundowns only committed two fouls in their opening game of the tournament against Ulsan but should have a much greater defensive load to manage here against a Dortmund side that should demand more of the ball than the Sundowns.

Despite this low foul count, central midfielder Teboho Moloena still managed to catch the eye of the referee and was shown a yellow card. He could be caught in the crossfire again here with his direct opponent likely to be Felix Nmecha.

Nmecha won 26 fouls across his 19 starts in the Bundesliga during the 24/25 Bundesliga season (1.55 per 90) which is a record which suggests that he can cause Mokoena some problems here. Mokoena was shown four yellow cards across his 23 appearances in the Premier Soccer League during the 24/25 season.

Mamelodi Sundowns will feel optimistic about their chances of scoring against this Dortmund side. The disciples of the Yellow Wall allowed Fluminense to have 24 shots in their opening game of the tournament and looked a little tired towards the end of the game which can open the door for Mamelodi Sundowns to get themselves on the scoresheet in this game.

The Sundowns scored in their opening game of the tournament against Ulsan HD from an xG of 1.36. They carved out two big chances in the game and though chances will be rare against this Dortmund side, they have the quality within their ranks to take one of the limited chances that will come their way.

Mamelodi Sundowns scored 65 goals across their 28 games in the Premier Soccer League during the 24/25 season (2.32 per game). No other side in the division scored more goals than the Sundowns during the most recent campaign.