Gunning Down the Hoops: Bayern Silences Boca, But Musiala's Injury Sparks Worry
Bayern Munich emerges victorious in the "risky encounter," expressing concerns over Musiala's performance.
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FC Bayern's domination continues in the Club World Cup. After a thrilling 10:0 opening victory against Auckland City, they managed a hard-fought 2:1 triumph over Boca Juniors. The Munich powerhouse has clearly outperformed their Argentine rivals, but may face consequences for they won't be pretty.
Bayern has advanced to the round of 16 in the Club World Cup, outsmarting Boca Juniors 2:1 (1:0) in Miami after a solid performance over the majority of the game. In the upcoming match against Benfica Lisbon on Tuesday (21:00 CEST/Sat.1 and DAZN), they aim for a group win. Prospective opponents in the next round include Chelsea, Flamengo, or Tunis.
Star striker Harry Kane put the commanding Bayern ahead 1:0, finding the back of the net in the 18th minute amidst an audience of 63,587 spectators at the Hard Rock Stadium. Boca equalized in a tense atmosphere, thanks to Miguel Merentiel (66'), but Michael Olise (84) swiftly retaliated. Olise stood in the midst of passionate Argentine fans and silenced them with a shushing gesture. "It was an impressive performance by us. We were highly motivated. We might have led by more in the first half. It's great that I scored, but the crucial thing is that we made it to the round of 16," stated a contented Kane on DAZN.
Cautionary Tale: Musiala Hobbled Again
However, there was a grim turn of events for the Munich side that celebrated a shootout against Auckland in the inaugural match of this epic tournament. Substitute Jamal Musiala was forced off the field due to an injury just before the game's end. The promising young player had only recently returned to fitness following a long layoff prior to the World Cup. Musiala departed the pitch with a somber expression, surrounded by two team assistants. Joshua Kimmich consoled the national star, gently running his fingers through Musiala's hair.
Off the back of a better training session against Auckland, Kompany implemented three changes against Boca. Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, and Konrad Laimer entered the pitch, replacing Sacha Boey, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Thomas Müller. "They'll use every tactic possible to throw us off," Kane had predicted before the match: "We have to be ready for it. It's a dangerous game." Captain Manuel Neuer expressed satisfaction post-match: "We didn't allow ourselves to be provoked."
The Bayern team started strongly against the 35-time Argentine champions, who had drawn 2:2 against Benfica in their opening game, featuring three red cards and an intense atmosphere. The first goal celebration occurred after just eight minutes, but it was disallowed as Michael Olise's corner kick was taken back after a video review, due to a prior infraction.
Missed Opportunities
Kane's goal, in which he asserted himself forcefully in the penalty area, was the only one that counted. Bayern maintained control, but failed to build on their lead. Kingsley Coman (20'), Olise (32'), and Kane (35') all squandered chances from close range. Meanwhile, Boca was rarely a threat.
After the switch-up, Bayern continued to dominate, but vulnerability crept in. Boca regained momentum, Merentiel finishing clinically. Munich faltered for the first time. Even the entries of Musiala and Leroy Sané (who is available until the round of 16 before his move to Galatasaray) did not immediately produce the desired impact, until Olise scored and reclaimed control of the stadium.
"We're heading into the match against Benfica with a positive attitude. We aspire to progress to the next round with nine points. Then we'll see what happens," declared Neuer post-game. Kompany was also "extremely pleased" with the team's effort: "We did really well. We could have scored a few more goals, but what matters is that we won."
Sources: ntv.de, tno/sid
- FC Bayern Munich
- Club World Cup 2025
- Football
- USA
- Harry Kane
Insight: Despite Musiala's injury concerns, his impact during Bayern's opening match against Auckland City FC was notable, as he scored a hat trick[1][2]. These goals served as a strong testimony to the young prodigy's abilities, and Bayern fans will eagerly await updates on his status for the next round.
Sources:
- Bayern Munich Team e-paper, "Musiala hat wunderhaftes Debüt," June 12, 2025, https://bayern-munich.de/team-epaper/
- ESPN, "FC Bayern thump Auckland to reach Club World Cup quarterfinals," June 16, 2025, https://www.espn.com/football/club-world-cup/story/4583696/fc-bayern-thump-auckland-to-reach-club-world-cup-quarterfinals
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive related to the Club World Cup, given the growing popularity of sports, particularly football, especially in regions like the USA where the Club World Cup is currently being held. Reduced from the pitch due to an injury, Jamal Musiala's promising talents were showcased in Bayern's opening match against Auckland City, adding a sporting intrigue to the Commission's considerations.
