Mbappe's Fitness In Question As Real Madrid Prepares For Dortmund Match

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Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso is uncertain about Kylian Mbappe's readiness to start against Borussia Dortmund. Mbappe has not started in the Club World Cup yet, having missed games due to illness. He returned during Madrid's 1-0 victory over Juventus, replacing Gonzalo Garcia. Despite his absence, Garcia has performed well, making Alonso cautious about starting Mbappe unless fully fit.

Alonso noted that Mbappe's condition is improving and a decision on his inclusion in the starting lineup will be made soon. "He's getting better. He's been improving over the last three days," Alonso stated. "On Saturday we will be deciding if he will be part of the initial XI." The possibility of pairing Mbappe with Garcia was also considered by Alonso, who said, "I think they could complement each other and if it's something that is required, it's not something I'm going to turn a blind eye to."

Real Madrid have an impressive record in the Club World Cup, remaining unbeaten in 19 matches (16 wins and 3 draws). Since 2014, they have won 14 out of 15 matches in this competition, only drawing against Al-Hilal this year. Their upcoming match against Dortmund marks their 20th appearance in the tournament.

The Spanish giants have dominated recent encounters with Dortmund, winning four consecutive Champions League meetings. This includes a notable 5-2 victory last October. Before this successful streak began in 2017, Real Madrid had only managed four wins in 12 matches against the German side.

Dortmund has shown significant improvement under Niko Kovac's leadership. "Dortmund is a very good team," Alonso remarked. "As soon as [Niko Kovac] was at the helm, they were growing and developing and on the rise." He acknowledged that facing such a formidable opponent would make for a challenging match.

The upcoming clash promises to be closely contested given both teams' current form and history. Real Madrid aims to maintain their unbeaten run at the Club World Cup while Dortmund seeks to challenge their dominance.