Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has offered a candid assessment of Mamelodi Sundowns’ performance and issued a friendly warning to Fluminense ahead of their upcoming clash against The Brazilians.
The German giants came from behind to edge the South African champions 4-3 in a thrilling 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Group F encounter on Saturday evening.
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Masandawana struck first through a moment of individual brilliance from Lucas Ribeiro Costa. However, Dortmund responded with four goals before Downs reduced the deficit late in the match.
The victory at TQL Stadium propelled BVB to the summit of Group F, while the Brazilians slipped from first to third position with one game remaining.
Although they lost the match, the Tshwane-based giants controlled most parts of the game with an impressive 60% possession compared to Dortmund’s 40% at the final whistle.
Sundowns now face a must-win showdown against Fluminense on Wednesday to advance to the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Dortmund will look to secure at least a point in their final group-stage fixture against South Korea’s Ulsan HD, also scheduled for Wednesday.
Speaking after the match, Kovac acknowledged how much Sundowns challenged his team and warned Fluminense not to underestimate Miguel Cardoso’s star-studded team.
"As said, you have been here yesterday in the press conference and I was not lying, I said what I saw," Kovac told the media after the match.
It's [Mamelodi Sundowns] a football team which likes to play football, technically very well, educated, I would say, and you see how the Portuguese head coach tends to play this game.
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"It's easy to say on the paper that we are the favourites, yes, we have been, but you must first play the game. This is what we did today and we saw how hard it was.
"I am convinced that the next game from the Sundowns will be also very tight. Fluminense is a good team, but from my point of view, I think you can also challenge them, you can chase them and see what will happen in the game."
