Bayern Munich look to seal early qualification for the Club World Cup knockout stage on Saturday when they face Boca Juniors at Hard Rock Stadium. After dismantling Auckland City 10-0 in their opener, Vincent Kompany’s side are in cruise control, while Boca aim to bounce back after surrendering a two-goal lead against Benfica.
Match Overview
Bayern Munich began their Club World Cup campaign in ruthless fashion, hammering Auckland City 10-0 to set a tournament record for the biggest margin of victory. The German champions scored six before halftime and registered 31 shots in total, barely allowing their opponents a touch.
That win extended Bayern’s unbeaten run to eight matches across all competitions, including five wins in their last six. Their attacking form has been blistering, netting 26 times in their previous six games while conceding just one goal in that span.
Victory over Boca could book Bayern’s place in the round of 16, but only if Benfica fail to beat Auckland on Friday.
Boca Juniors, meanwhile, kicked off their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Benfica. Despite taking a 2-0 lead within the opening half hour through Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia, they let it slip in the second half and were forced to settle for a point.
Miguel Russo’s side have shown they can go toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite and currently sit second in the Argentine Primera División’s first phase. However, their recent form has been shaky, with just one win in their last four matches.
Team News
Bayern are expected to name a similar side to the one that demolished Auckland, though Dayot Upamecano could come into central defence to partner Jonathan Tah. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic are likely to anchor midfield again after their dominant showing.
Harry Kane is still searching for his first Club World Cup goal and will lead the line, supported by Kingsley Coman and Michael Olise. Jamal Musiala, who scored a hat-trick last time out, will retain his place in the No. 10 role.
Boca Juniors will be forced into changes, with centre-back Nicolas Figal suspended after receiving a red card against Benfica. Ayrton Costa is expected to partner Marcos Rojo in central defence.
Ander Herrera will also miss out due to a red card while on the bench after being subbed off with an injury. Tomas Belmonte is likely to start alongside Rodrigo Battaglia in midfield. Up front, Exequiel Zeballos could feature as Miguel Merentiel is a doubt after picking up a knock.
Tactical Review
Bayern dominate possession with their 4-2-3-1 structure, pushing their full-backs high while Musiala operates between the lines. Olise and Coman stretch play, and Kane drops deep to link with midfielders and create space for runners.
Boca will likely revert to a compact 4-4-1-1, relying on counter-attacks and exploiting set pieces. Battaglia and Belmonte will be crucial in disrupting Bayern’s rhythm, while Palacios and Zeballos could carry the threat on the break.
How to Watch
The FIFA Club World Cup group stage fixture will be available to stream live via FIFA+ and affiliated broadcasters. Kickoff is set for 2:00 AM WAT (3:00 AM local time) on Saturday, June 22.
Predictions
Softfootball Prediction: Bayern Munich 2-1 Boca Juniors
Boca will offer a far tougher test than Auckland, and their physicality and pressing may unsettle Bayern early. However, the Bundesliga giants have too much attacking quality and squad depth not to find a way through. Expect a tighter affair, but one where Bayern edge it and potentially book their place in the next round.