Bayern Munich, known as the 'German giant,' showcased its prowess with a dominant 10-goal victory over Auckland City in the first match of the Club World Cup.
On the 16th (Korea time), Bayern Munich defeated Auckland City (New Zealand) 10-0 in the first match of Group C at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup held at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
This tournament marked a strong start with a double-digit score in a single match for the expanded Club World Cup.
Bayern lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Harry Kane occupied the front, while Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller, and Michael Olise stood in the second line. Aleksandar Pavlović and Joshua Kimmich filled the midfield, and Rafael Guerreiro, Josip Stanišić, and Jonathan Tah formed the back four. The goal was guarded by Manuel Neuer.
Bayern scored 6 goals in the first half alone. The scoring barrage began with a goal from Kingsley Coman in the 6th minute, followed by Sasha Boey (18th), Olise (20th), Coman (21st), Müller (45th), and Olise (additional time). Jamal Musiala, who came on as a substitute in the second half, celebrated the victory with a hat trick, scoring in the 22nd, 28th, and 39th minutes. Müller also completed a multi-goal game with an additional goal in the 44th minute of the second half, brilliantly opening the curtain for the 'last dance.'
Kim Min-jae did not participate in the match due to the aftermath of an Achilles injury. In pre-match training photos, Kim was seen focusing on recovery with indoor cycling. According to Max Eberl, the Director General, "Kim is eager to recover quickly and is expected to return to team training in a few days." His absence was filled by Jonathan Tah, who was acquired from Bayer Leverkusen last month.
This tournament is particularly special for Thomas Müller. After completing a 25-year journey with Bayern Munich at the end of last season, he signed a one-month short-term contract with the club to participate in this tournament. Müller, who demonstrated his presence with a multi-goal performance, is a 'one-club man,' with 743 appearances and 247 goals and 273 assists for Bayern since his professional debut in 2008. He also holds the record for most appearances in the club's history.
This Club World Cup has been restructured from the previous format of 7 teams to a tournament featuring 32 teams. The participating teams, selected based on their performances in continental club competitions from 2021 to 2024, include 4 teams each from Asia, Africa, and North and Central America, 6 teams from South America, 12 teams from Europe, 1 team from Oceania, and 1 team from the host country, the United States. The teams will be divided into 8 groups of 4, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Round of 16, and the total prize money is approximately $1 billion (1.3 trillion won).
Bayern, which is in Group C, will face Argentina's Boca Juniors on the 21st and Portugal's SL Benfica in the final match on the 25th. It is noteworthy whether Bayern, which adorned its first match with its formidable attacking power, can enter the serious title race.
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