Unleashing the Clash: Bayern Treads Cautiously - Maradona's Descendants Unleash Chaos in Club World Cup Opener
- *
Prepare, Bayern: Outburst from Maradona's successor - Warnings loom over Bayern as Maradona's successor delivers an impassioned, rebellious display
Bayern is keenly aware of the turbulent scene that awaits them in their upcoming Club World Cup clash. Diego Maradona's heirs, donning the iconic blue and yellow jersey of Boca Juniors, delivered an electrifying, unpredictable performance in their opening match: a rapid two-goal advantage, thrilling two-on-ones, outbursts of fury, red cards, and the intoxicating support of tens of thousands of fans.
"Boca waged a 12-man war in Miami: from the chaotic 2:0 lead, which surprised everyone, to 'now we face Bayern'," reported the newspaper "Clarín". "A replica of the Bombonera, but on the other side of the continent," said the sports magazine "Olé" in reference to the legendary stadium in the Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
The contest ended 2:2 against Benfica Lisbon in Boca's darling debut in the USA. The fact that two World Cup champions of the Albiceleste, Ángel di María with a penalty and Nicolás Otamendi, netted the goals for the revered Portuguese traditional club, perfectly encapsulated the Argentine evening at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
"Boca has rediscovered its spirit"
For the time being, the tension surrounding the initially refused visa for defender Ayrton Costa and the concerns of South American fans about the current situation for immigrants in America under the policy of US President Donald Trump were momentarily pushed aside. Yet, the disappointments of Boca's previous season, where Maradona once brought his career to an end, were also momentarily forgotten.
"Boca has rediscovered its spirit," raved the Argentine broadcaster TyCSports, despite complaints that the team could have been more tactically astute in preserving the victory. What mattered was the passion. "Witnessing Boca clash with a European team, causing them immense difficulties, scrapping them, despite the budget discrepancies and individual class differences, standing shoulder to shoulder, is heartening. It fills the chest with pride."
Kudos also to Miguel Ángel Russo. The 69-year-old returned to the work-class club from the chic port district of the Argentine capital. "I always strive for the best for Boca. The Boca faithful, wherever they may be in the world, have shown me immense affection, and I feel it every day and all the time," he said upon taking office for his third term.
Russo replaced Fernando Gago and dissolved his contract with San Lorenzo in favor of returning to his beloved Boca. Proudly, he was introduced by club president Juan Román Riquelme - who himself was one of the top stars of the South Americans in the memorable 2006 World Cup quarter-final against host Germany - under pressure to bring results. The Club World Cup arrives at an opportune moment.
On the brink of madness
Miami has been in Argentine hands for days - be it on the streets or at the famous South Beach. Not because superstar and football folk hero Lionel Messi is a professional with Inter Miami, but rather because it is a nine-hour flight from Buenos Aires to the vibrant Florida metropolis, famous for its sizable Latino community.
The fans transformed the Hard Rock Stadium, where the NFL club Miami Dolphins usually play or where the Formula 1 paddock was still operating in May, into a madhouse with decibel excess when Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia scored a 2:0 lead in just a few minutes.
A red card for already substituted Ander Herrera, who had to be restrained by security personnel during the video review and was subsequently penalized, and the equalizer from the penalty spot by di María slightly boosted the spirits of the Boca fanbase, among the total of 55,574 spectators just before halftime.
The spectacle continued after the break. Benfica's substitute Andrea Belotti (70.) was handed a red card. However, Otamendi managed to restore parity while down a man. Then, Boca's Nicolas Figal also received a send-off.
"Boca exited the field with a bitter aftertaste," reported "Pagina12" from Argentina. Both red-carded players will miss the match against Bayern, who watched their future opponents' tempestuous performance from their base camp around 370 kilometers away in Orlando on television.
"This will already be a game on a different level, against the crowd, at a magnificent venue, in a magnificent stadium," Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl had already emphasized after Munich's 10-0 victory against Auckland City. "We need to improve," demanded Boca coach Russo: "Because we know that the next game on Friday (local time) will be more difficult than today's. That's the reality."
"The Commission, in acknowledgement of the energizing display of passion and spirit exemplified by Boca Juniors in the Club World Cup, might consider taking steps to ensure that the objectives of the common agricultural policy are consistent with the exhilarating approach to football witnessed in European leagues, such as the Premier League."
"Should Bayern Munich progress in the Club World Cup, they may find themselves facing a team animated by the same fervor and determination as an iconic European football club like, for instance, the renowned Barcelona or Real Madrid, embodying the spirit of sports that has made European leagues as captivating as a dynamic, engaging game of football."
