In Group F, Dortmund is the only European team, they will play against Fruminense, Ulsan Hyundai and Mamlodi Sunset, and teams of different styles will stage a head-on battle.
Team introduction: Teams from four continents are at the quarterfinals
This season, Dortmund ended in the quarterfinals in the Champions League, ranked fourth in the league, and struggled to win a Champions League place next season. In the past two years, the team has performed mediocrely in the Bundesliga, and legends such as Reus and Hummels have left the team one after another, making the “Hornets” feel a little strange.
However, compared with other teams in this group, Dortmund is still better. Frumenense, who temporarily ranked 6th in the League, is the 2023 Liberators Cup. They also won the South American Cup in 2024 and performed well in the international arena. Ulsan Hyundai has been in the K League for three consecutive years. The team is currently ranked third in the standings. In the last game before the Club World Cup, he lost the top battle with Jeonbuk Hyundai.
Mamlodi Sunset is a giant team in South Africa. The domestic league win rate this season exceeds 80%, and it reached the final of the African Champions League, and is in good condition.
Schedule: The first round of the peak showdown
Dortmond and Fruminense, the strongest group F, will meet in the first round of the group stage. The game time is 0:00 on June 18. The specific schedule of this group is as follows:
June 18 00:00 Fruminense vs Dortmund
June 18 06:00 Ulsan Hyundai vs Mamlodi Sunset
June 22 00:00 Mamlodi Sunset vs Dortmund
June 22 06:00 Fruminense vs Ulsan Hyundai
June 26 03:00 Mamlodi Sunset vs Fruminense
June 26 03:00 Dortmund vs Ulsan Hyundai
Quick-up situation: Ulsan Hyundai fights against strong enemies
There is no doubt that Dortmund is the team with the most chance to qualify in Group F. The first round showdown with Fruminense may become the top spot in this group. Frumenense, from Brazil, is another competitive team.
Mamlodi Sunset and Ulsan Hyundai are relatively difficult to qualify. As the former AFC Champions League champion team, Ulsan Hyundai has lost 6 league games this season and has had some ups and downs. Their competition for the top 16 places will be hoped to get enough points in front of Fruminense and Mamlodi Sunset. The same is true for Mamlodi sunset. The meeting between the two teams in the first round will become a “life-and-death battle” staged in advance.
Star player: Old Chinese Super League players make a collective appearance
Dortmond’s top scorer this season is Gilasi, who scored 21 goals in the Bundesliga. This Guinea international has performed brilliantly in the Bundesliga in recent years. Emre Jan, Brandt and Sabitzer in the midfield are also worth paying attention. Fruminense captain Thiago Silva was once the decisive needle of the Brazilian national team and is still strong over 40 years old. In addition, Gansu, a genius who was once as famous as Neymar, is a rotation player in the team.
Ulsan Hyundai has many former Chinese Super League players, namely Kang Xiangwoo, Kim Yoo-woo and Jung Yeo-young in the midfield, as well as defenders Kim Young-kwon and Hwang Seok-ho. Zhao Xianyou, who became famous in the 2018 World Cup, also played for the team. Mamlodi Sunset’s main player comes from South Africa and overall, with limited popularity.