Bayern Munich begin their Club World Cup campaign with a heavily one-sided fixture on paper, as the German champions face Oceania representatives Auckland City at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday. The match kicks off at 3pm local time, with the European giants entering as overwhelming favourites.
It’s a classic David vs Goliath clash, with Auckland’s part-timers preparing to face one of the world’s most elite clubs.
Match Overview
Fresh off reclaiming their Bundesliga title, Bayern Munich arrive in the USA full of confidence and with their sights set on lifting the Club World Cup for a third time. Vincent Kompany’s side racked up 82 points this past season—13 more than their nearest challengers—and topped both the scoring and defensive charts domestically, with 99 goals scored and only 32 conceded.
While their continental run was cut short by Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals, Bayern were dominant in the Bundesliga and enter this tournament unbeaten in seven, with 20 goals scored and just seven conceded in that stretch.
By contrast, Auckland City arrive from the New Zealand National League, where they sit third with 25 points, four behind leaders Birkenhead United. Though they lifted the OFC Champions League title for a fourth straight year, they are well aware that this is a massive step up in opposition.
Coach Paul Posa’s team—composed largely of part-time professionals—are used to playing in front of a few thousand fans. Now they face Bayern Munich in a 26,000-seat stadium in the US. Despite good recent form, Auckland are bracing for a major test of resilience and structure.
Team News
Bayern Munich are expected to rotate slightly given the opposition, but Vincent Kompany will still deploy a strong starting XI. Manuel Neuer will likely start in goal, protected by Jonathan Tah and Eric Dier in central defence, while Dayot Upamecano may be saved for tougher fixtures.
Joshua Kimmich is set to start in midfield with Aleksandar Pavlovic, while Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane could operate on the flanks. Jamal Musiala remains a doubt, so veteran Thomas Muller may be tasked with supporting Harry Kane, who is sure to lead the line.
Leroy Sane’s situation is worth noting—he’s out of contract at the end of the month and may not feature beyond the group stage.
Auckland City are expected to name their strongest lineup. Goalkeeper Conor Tracey will marshal a back four featuring Adam Bell, Nikko Boxall, Adam Mitchell, and Nathan Lobo. In midfield, Gerard Garriga, Michael Den Heijer, and Mario Ilich will look to keep things compact.
The attack is likely to be spearheaded by Myer Bevan, with Dylan Manickun and Joe Lee providing support. Posa will hope his side can keep things tight early and frustrate Bayern as long as possible.
Tactical Review
Expect Bayern to dominate possession from start to finish, employing aggressive pressing, wide overloads, and frequent cutbacks into the box. Kompany’s side are adept at breaking down low blocks, which will almost certainly be Auckland’s setup.
The New Zealand side will sit deep in a 4-3-3 that becomes a 4-5-1 when out of possession, hoping to contain Bayern’s movement and limit space between the lines. However, their part-time status and relative lack of speed at the back could be brutally exposed.
The first 20 minutes may set the tone—if Bayern score early, the floodgates could open.
How to Watch
Fans across the world can stream this match and the entire FIFA Club World Cup™ live on DAZN. Viewers can tune in via the DAZN mobile app or website for full coverage.
Predictions
Softfootball Prediction: Bayern Munich 5-0 Auckland City
This looks set to be one of the most lopsided fixtures of the group stage. With stars like Harry Kane eager to get on the scoresheet and Bayern pushing to win the tournament, expect an emphatic win. The gulf in class is simply too large for Auckland to bridge.