Bellingham blames heat for Dortmund's possession woes against Sundowns
- Martin T
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
Borussia Dortmund star Jobe Bellingham has attributed his team's unexpected struggles with ball possession against Mamelodi Sundowns to the "extremely hot" midday weather conditions.
This explanation comes after the Bundesliga giants secured a narrow 4-3 victory over Sundowns in their second 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group match.
Despite the defeat, the Betway Premiership champions impressively outplayed their European counterparts in key areas.
Many had expected Sundowns to be overwhelmed, but Masandawana defied expectations, firmly dictating play and maintaining significantly more possession than Niko Kovac’s squad throughout the match.
At the final whistle, Miguel Cardoso’s side boasted an impressive 59% possession compared to Dortmund’s 41%, completing 511 successful passes to BVB’s 315.
While Bellingham commended Sundowns' performance, he pointed to the challenging climate as a major factor in Dortmund's difficulties. "The conditions made it so difficult, especially for us as a European team," Bellingham stated during the post-match press conference.
"They [Sundowns] played a fantastic game, and I’m sure they are used to that kind of weather. But it’s something we’re gonna have to adapt to as the tournament goes on. And these are just the demands of this competition. So, it was really difficult. In a game like that, you have to find solutions and try to play fast."
Bellingham added that his team eventually adapted. "I think eventually in the game, we did much better, and we can build on it," he remarked.
Dortmund now sits atop Group F with four points from their first two matches. Their final group stage challenge will be against Ulsan HD on Wednesday, June 25th, at 9:00 PM SAST, at the TQL Stadium.
Sundowns are currently third in the group with three points after two matches and face a crucial final group stage encounter against Fluminense on Wednesday, June 25th, at 9 PM SAST, at the Hard Rock Stadium, where they need a win to advance.
