🔊 Can Borussia Dortmund secure a spot in the knockout stage of the Club World Cup? Initially, it seemed like they would have no trouble in Group F. However, they haven't yet clinched one of the top two spots. Meanwhile, Ulsan have lost all hope of climbing off the bottom of the table. Thus, the favorite in this matchup is clear. Nevertheless, we will explore different scenarios to make an insightful prediction. It's worth noting that the match will take place in Cincinnati, at the TQL Stadium.

Head-to-Head

📊 The opponents have never faced each other before.

Borussia Dortmund Team Overview

🟡 Borussia Dortmund closed out the Bundesliga season with five consecutive victories, climbing to fourth place. As a result, they were considered the favorites in their group for the current tournament. However, there are still some questions surrounding the "Black and Yellows."

⚫ In the first round, Borussia faced stiff resistance from Fluminense, ending in a 0-0 draw. The German side failed to create any clear scoring opportunities, leaving their opponents closer to claiming victory. Ahead of their clash with Mamelodi Sundowns, Niko Kovac made several changes to the lineup. The team showed some attacking prowess but looked shaky in defense, nearly squandering a three-goal lead (4-3). The coach benched Julian Ryerson, Marcel Sabitzer, and Karim Adeyemi. They all made appearances during the match against Mamelodi Sundowns and are ready to return to the starting lineup for the third group stage game.

🔝 The younger of the Bellingham brothers is keen to avoid comparisons with his sibling but seems to be following a similar career trajectory. Jobe was named the best young player in the Championship and helped Sunderland secure promotion to the Premier League. However, the midfielder won't feature in England's top flight as he moved to Borussia Dortmund ahead of the Club World Cup. Bellingham debuted against Fluminense, coming on as a second-half substitute and mostly playing backward passes. But against Mamelodi Sundowns, the Englishman started, scored his first goal, earned a rating of 7.2, and was voted Man of the Match by fans.

Ulsan Team Overview

🔵 Ulsan are having a tough season. They currently sit fifth in the K-League, trailing the leaders by 13 points with a game in hand. The team stumbled in the AFC Champions League, a competition they won just five years ago. This has positioned them as the underdogs in Group F.

⚪ In the first round of the group stage, the South Korean side faced Mamelodi Sundowns, a team of similar caliber. Essentially, their head-to-head clash was a battle to see who could mount a challenge for a playoff spot. Ulsan deservedly lost (0-1), although they did have a few scoring opportunities. In the second round, they continued to play defensively against Fluminense and came close to success. Kim Pan-gon's squad won the first half despite conceding first. However, after the break, they allowed three unanswered goals, leaving them without any points (2-4).

🔝 Ulsan's lineup lacks star power. However, they do have some solid players, including midfielder Jin Hyun Lee. He's in his debut season with Ulsan and has recorded just one assist in 13 K-League matches. His first goal came in the match against Fluminense. Notably, Jin Hyun Lee initially equalized and then set up a teammate for another goal, earning the highest rating on the team (7.7).

Latest news

Borussia Dortmund

🎙 Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac expressed his frustration with the heat during their match against Mamelodi Sundowns: “I was sweating like I just stepped out of a sauna. Both teams struggled, but our opponents are used to these conditions. We certainly didn't display our best performance—it was impossible today. Too many simple mistakes, the game was far from smooth. The main thing is we won. Nothing else matters.”

🎙 Niko Kovac also commented on midfielder Jobe Bellingham: “He's strong, resilient, and has a good feel for the game. Right now, he's still getting to grips with what we've been working on in training over the past few months. At 19, he still lacks discipline. He's prone to losing his position, especially when the opponent has the ball.”

❌ Borussia Dortmund continue to be without Emre Can, Salih Ozcan, and Nico Schlotterbeck due to injuries.

Ulsan

🎙 Ulsan head coach Kim Pan-gon expressed his disappointment after their second defeat at the Club World Cup: “In my view, it was a very good game. I feel sorry for our players. What they did was fantastic. We were a bit unlucky. But I am very proud of our players. We have no hope of reaching the Round of 16, but for our fans, we must fight until the end of the tournament.”

✅ Ulsan are preparing for their match against Borussia Dortmund with a full squad available.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The main referee for the match is Tori Penso from the USA. This season, she has officiated 10 MLS games, averaging 3.4 yellow cards per match. At the current tournament, Tori Penso oversaw the encounter between Al Ain and Juventus. Although it wasn't a fiercely contested match, she recorded 19 fouls and issued five yellow cards.

This season, Borussia Dortmund have slightly more cautions (2.1 compared to 2). On average, matches involving these teams see around four yellow cards. The "Bumblebees" stick to their stats, with four cautions in their Club World Cup matches. Meanwhile, Ulsan's games have seen a total of just three yellow cards. Considering the referee's statistics, we suggest a bet on total yellow cards under 4.5.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Borussia Dortmund have scored at least three goals in 7 of their last 8 matches, with the exception being against Fluminense. On the other hand, Ulsan failed to score against Mamelodi Sundowns, which was their only goalless game in the last 10 outings. Therefore, the upcoming match is likely to be high-scoring. As a potential bet, we suggest total goals over 2.5.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Ulsan have the edge in corners this season (5.8 compared to 5.5). During the Club World Cup, they haven't delivered fewer than four corners in a match. Although the team has lost their chance to advance to the playoffs, they remain motivated until the end of the tournament. Therefore, it's worth considering a bet on Ulsan's total corners over 2.5.

Borussia Dortmund are the clear favorites in this matchup, yet their performance in the current tournament has been somewhat inconsistent. A draw would be sufficient for them to advance to the playoffs, which seems quite likely, as does a narrow victory, perhaps with a scoreline of 2-1.

Borussia Dortmund's matches against Fluminense and Mamelodi Sundowns were markedly different, but both opponents had plenty of scoring opportunities. The South American side failed to capitalize on theirs, but Ulsan might have better luck in converting chances, especially given Borussia's defensive shortages. Therefore, our key bet is – both teams to score (yes).