Borussia Dortmund’s head coach has praised Mamelodi Sundowns as a “technically well-educated” side, predicting their upcoming match against Fluminense will be tightly contested.
The German giants narrowly defeated Sundowns 4-3 in a thrilling encounter in Ohio on Saturday, despite being heavy favorites. The match was a tough test for Dortmund, with Sundowns pushing them until the final whistle.
With Ulsan Hyundai already eliminated, Group F remains wide open, setting up an exciting final round of fixtures. Dortmund’s coach, Niko Kovac, had warned before the game that Sundowns would be a difficult opponent—a prediction that proved accurate.
“I meant what I said yesterday—Sundowns are a team that loves to play football. They’re technically strong, and you can see the Portuguese influence in their style,” Kovac said after the match.
“On paper, we were favorites, but the game showed how tough they were. I expect their next match against Fluminense to be just as tight. Fluminense are a good side, but Sundowns can challenge them.”
Kovac admitted his team struggled defensively against Sundowns’ attacking play, particularly with their high defensive line, which allowed Lucas Ribeiro Costa and Tashreeq Matthews to exploit spaces.
“We had issues with the high line, but opponents study us and know our tendencies,” he said. “We won’t change our approach because it’s what makes us successful. We just need to adjust our positioning and defensive awareness slightly.”
The result leaves Group F finely balanced, with Sundowns still in contention for a place in the FIFA Club World Cup knockout stages. Their final group match against Fluminense could decide their fate.
