Club World Cup at 40 degrees
Bavaria loses against Benfica – and playful group victory
Updated on June 24, 2025 – 11:11 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The Munich team did not really get going against Benfica. After a gap and break, Bavaria turned up – albeit unsuccessfully.
FC Bayern missed the group victory at the club World Cup. Against Benfica Lisbon, the German record champion showed two faces in the 0: 1 (0: 1) defeat: Bavaria initially started at almost 40 degrees in Charlotte without the usual energy. In the course of the game, however, the Vincent Kompany team turned up-nevertheless failed several times due to the strongly reacting Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin. Bayern, who were qualified for the round of 16 before the duel, ended the preliminary round as second in Group C and meet Flamengo.
Benfica took the lead through Andreas Schjelderup after only 13 minutes. The Bavarians, who changed in seven positions compared to the 2-1 win against Boca Juniors, achieved the interim compensation (61st minute) by the substitute Joshua Kimmich. However, teammates Harry Kane was decisive in the offside. The outgoing Leroy Sané also failed several times. One consolation: Bayern have already secured 40 million euros in prize money.
The conditions in the Bank of America Stadium were tough. “I don’t want to complain,” said Bayern trainer Kompany before the game, “but that will influence the game. I already have in my mind that it will not be as easy as you think at home.”
Outside, Benfica took control against a disoriented Bayern defensive. Captain Manuel Neuer was still able to defuse a shot from Altstar Ángel di María (9th). But when Sacha Boey stopped a nap at the pass of Fredrik Aursnes in the back of the defense, Schjeldup shot from eleven meters.
Company, despite high sunlight as usual, dressed in black as usual, drove his team in vain. The Munich team was too slow in the collective, almost every free ball got the opponent. There were also technical defects. Despite the drinking break after half an hour, the players apparently suffered a lot. Benficas Gianluca Prestiani went to the ground (37th), but was able to continue playing after a short treatment.
Bayern only had their first real chance shortly before the break: after a nice preparatory work by Serge Gnabry Sané, the ball shot the ball far above the goal (44th). At the beginning of Kompany Kimmich, Olise and Kane, among others Bishop had to get out. Immediately there was more train and the duels led more bite. Kimmich shone as a strategist, Sané (51st). On the other hand, Neuer also parried against Kerem Aktürkoglu (56.). The supposed compensation by driver Kimmich (61.) did not count because Kane was offside.
Bayern now laced Benfica, defied the conditions and tried a lot. But Sané (87th) found his master again after Kane’s pass in the strong goalkeeper Anatolij Trubin.