Group Stage Disappointment for Bayern Munich Due to Charlotte's Overindulgence
Sweating and disheartened, Bayern Munich's bewildered pros hastily took refuge in the cool, underground tunnels following their disappointing defeat in the Club World Cup. In the scorching heat of Charlotte, Bayern Munich missed out on the group victory in the Club World Cup, falling 0:1 (0:1) to Benfica Lisbon. Despite introducing top-notch players such as Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich, or Michael Olise after the break, the team couldn't turn the game around. "Our exhibition in the first half was pathetic," admitted Vincent Kompany: "But I still harbored hope for the second half." However, if you don't take your chances, "you'll pay the price." Despite the sweltering heat and the deteriorated pitch, the Bayern coach also pointed out, "At least we won't have to return to Charlotte anymore."
Andreas Schjelderup bagged the game-winning goal for Portugal's record champions in the 13th minute, with Guess who? It was Kimmich! His goal was disallowed (61') and Konrad Laimer, also brought on as a substitute, struck the post (66'). The folks at ESPN won't be needing extra programming as they won't have to air the match between Bayern and either Chelsea or African underdog Espérance Tunis anymore. Instead, the team will face Flamengo from Brazil in Miami a day later. If they triumph in that game, they might square off against bigwigs like PSG in the quarter-finals.
A Few Good Men, and Women, Left in the Bench
" It's not our ordinary setup," Kompany exclaimed before kick-off, considering the brutal afternoon sun in the US state of North Carolina and the uninspiring artificial turf. The Belgian coach relied on "the adrenaline" of fresh faces - and took a breather from his regulars. The venerable Kompany even treated the spectators to some déjà-vu moments, bringing debutants Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané, João Palhinha, and new signing Tom Bischof into the number ten position. The 19-year-old, who joined from TSG Hoffenheim, performed well but couldn't create a spectacular impact.
The usual suspects like Kane, Kimmich, Olise, Tah, and Coman stayed stock still, resting their backsides on the cool, comfortable seats of the "Bank of America Stadium" until just before half-time. The image unfolding on the TV screens from their colleagues was nowhere near as impressive as they had hoped – significantly less productive ball possession and a noticeably slow pace. Benfica capitalized on these opportunities with their slick counter-attacks, especially with the deft Ángel Di María leading the charge.
The 37-year-old Argentine gave Neuer plenty to think about, forcing the Bayern keeper to save a low shot (9'). He also set up the 1:0 goal for Schjelderup, with Neuer unable to intervene. Upamecano was a brick wall, making a vital tackle on the borderline to prevent a possible 0:2 deficit for Benfica's Evangelos Pavlidis (18'). In the second half, Bayern put on a better performance, with Kimmich, Olise, and, of course, Harry Kane causing quite the ruckus! Sané narrowly missed out on scoring an unbelievable goal after Kimmich’s amazing pass (51'), and Neuer made another outstanding stop against Aktürkoglu (56'). They continued to press and push for the equalizer, but Kimmich's effort was foiled due to an erroneous offside call. The man who exchanged Galatasaray for pastures new, Sané, missed another golden opportunity (88').
"Despite the early departure from the Club World Cup, Bayern Munich's players still have a chance to shine in the upcoming Champions League games, with players like Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich, and Leroy Sané waiting on the bench."
"As the European leagues kick off, Bayern Munich might face tough opponents like Paris Saint-Germain, if they manage to win their upcoming fixture against Flamengo in Miami."
