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Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors: Club World Cup Preview
Bayern Munich continue their Club World Cup campaign on Saturday morning when they face Argentine giants Boca Juniors at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
by Berba
The German champions sit top of the group following a dominant 10-0 win over Auckland City and could book a place in the round of 16 with another victory—depending on the result of Friday’s clash between Auckland and Benfica.
Vincent Kompany’s side made a statement in their tournament opener, overwhelming the Oceania representatives with six goals before half-time and racking up 31 total shots while allowing just one attempt on their own goal. That performance extended Bayern’s unbeaten run to eight matches, with the Bundesliga side winning five of their last six and recording five clean sheets in that stretch. They have now scored 26 goals in their past six outings, highlighting the form and firepower they bring into this contest.
Boca Juniors, meanwhile, began their Club World Cup journey with a 2-2 draw against Benfica. It was a result that will have left them frustrated, having gone 2-0 up within the opening half-hour through goals from Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia, only to see their lead evaporate. Still, the performance underlined the competitiveness of South American sides in this expanded tournament format.
Domestically, Boca sit second in Group A of the Argentine top-flight’s first phase with 33 points from 16 games. They’ve had a mixed run of results recently—two draws, a win, and a loss in their last four matches—but had previously won six of seven, showing flashes of their best form. Over their past seven games, they have found the net 10 times while conceding seven.
In terms of team news, Bayern are expected to name a strong side, potentially similar to the one that dismantled Auckland City. Dayot Upamecano may partner Jonathan Tah in central defence ahead of veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic impressed as a midfield pairing and are likely to continue, while Harry Kane—still searching for his first goal of the competition—could lead the line alongside Kingsley Coman and Michael Olise.
Boca, however, will be forced into changes. Centre-back Nicolas Figal is suspended after being sent off against Benfica, which could see Ayrton Costa and Marcos Rojo form the centre-back partnership. In midfield, Ander Herrera went off injured in the previous match and was later shown a red card from the bench, leaving Tomas Belmonte and Rodrigo Battaglia as likely starters. Up front, Exequiel Zeballos may be called upon after Miguel Merentiel picked up a knock.
With both sides bringing pedigree and high-level experience, Saturday's matchup promises to be one of the most intriguing of the group stage.