Inter wins with two more men: BVB faces a really unpleasant opponent at the Club World Cup

Borussia Dortmund advances to the round of 16 of the Club World Cup as group winners, where they face a traditional Mexican club and an indestructible Spaniard. Inter Milan ends up with two more men in their match.

An unpleasant task: Borussia Dortmund faces Mexican giants CF Monterrey in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup. The team, featuring the ever-indestructible Spanish defensive veteran Sergio Ramos, decisively defeated Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan 4-0 (3-0) and finished second in Group E. The clash with Dortmund will take place on July 1 in Atlanta.

Monterrey, which hadn't lost a game in the group stage and had held Inter to a 1-1 draw, quickly took a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Nelson Deossa (30'), German Berterame (34'), and Jesus Corona (38'). The defense, led by four-time Champions League winner Ramos, has conceded only one goal so far. Berterame struck again shortly before the final whistle (90'+7').

Monterrey is "a team Borussia Dortmund has never played against," said sporting director Sebastian Kehl: "We're excited, we accept the challenge - and we absolutely want to advance to the next round." Julian Brandt is likely to be in the squad, but he will have to grit his teeth in the tournament. He is handicapped by a scaphoid fracture. He suffered the injury in the tenth minute of the first group match against Fluminense (0-0), the Borussia Dortmund player said after the 1-0 (1-0) win against Ulsan HD at the end of the group stage. Brandt is playing with a splint on his left wrist; he came on as a substitute against Ulsan.

On Thursday, there will be another "examination to see if anything has shifted. Hopefully not, otherwise it could lead to surgery," said Niko Kovac. According to the coach, Brandt will have to wear the splint for three months. "It's a bit of a hindrance, but everything is padded. You get used to it," said the Croatian: "The thumb is kind of clamped; you can't move it, because otherwise the scaphoid bone will suffer further damage." Brandt, meanwhile, expressed confidence. "Unfortunately, I have to wear this thing for a while, maybe I'll get lucky and avoid surgery. It sounds worse than it is," he said: "It's a nasty spot because it doesn't heal very well." But fortunately, "I'm right-handed," emphasized Brandt.

Champions League finalists Inter Milan also advanced to the Club World Cup, beating River Plate from Buenos Aires 2-0 (0-0). Francesco Pio Esposito (72') and Alessandro Bastoni (90'+3') scored for the Italians, while Lucas Martinez Quarta (66') and Gonzalo Montiel (90'+6') were sent off for Argentina, receiving a red card. Inter will play in the round of 16 on June 30 in Charlotte against Brazilian side Fluminense, who finished second in Dortmund's group.