Jun

Bayern Munich frustrated by Benfica in maiden FIFA Club World Cup defeat

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Bayern Munich finished second in Group C at the FIFA Club World Cup after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat against Benfica at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Benfica 1-0 Bayern
Goals: 1-0 Schjeldrup (13′)

Aware that Boca Juniors were simultaneously playing Group C whipping boys Auckland City, Benfica began brightly in a bid to secure their spot in the knockout rounds.

Ángel di María tested Manuel Neuer early on with a shot from the edge of the box that the veteran goalkeeper did well to keep out, but he was powerless to prevent the Portuguese side taking the lead when Andreas Schjeldrup ghosted into the box at the back post to slot in the opener.

Evangelos Pavlidis should have doubled Benfica’s advantage over a much-changed Bayern side – with Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich among the substitutes – but he went looking for a penalty when one-on-one with Neuer instead of going for goal.

Although Bayern dominated possession, enjoying close to 65 percent of the ball in the first half, there was very little to see from them in the final third. Their best chances arrived just before half-time, with Leroy Sané blazing over from Serge Gnabry’s cut-back and Thomas Müller failing to make a clean connection with Sané cross from the right.

Vincent Kompany brought on Kane, Kimmich and Olise at the interval in a bid to inject more urgency into his side’s attacks, and Bayern immediately looked more dangerous, pinning Benfica inside their own penalty area initially.

Chances soon came in quick succession. Sané was denied by Anatoliy Trubin when sent through one-on-one by Kimmich, Müller fired straight at the goalkeeper from 12 yards and Aleksandar Pavlović sliced over.

Benfica regrouped through, and Neuer needed to be alert to keep out Kerem Aktürkoğlu after a brilliant turn past Dayot Upamecano. Kimmich drilled in what he thought was the equaliser from the edge of the box but it was ruled out for offside against Kane following a VAR review.

Trubin continued to frustrate Bayern as they pushed for an equaliser, producing a brilliant reaction save to thwart Pavlović from close range and then keeping out Sané late on in another one-on-one. The Bundesliga champions refused to give up as they sought a way back, but Benfica held on for a draw that sent them into the last 16 as Group C winners.

Full-time: Benfica 1-0 Bayern

Germany’s record champions suffer their first ever Club World Cup defeat. They finish second to Benfica in Group C, meaning they’ll play Group D winners Flamengo in the round of 16 in Miami on Sunday.

Not to be

Stanišić surges into the box, but his shot is blocked behind for a corner. Olise’s cross finds Kane, who heads narrowly wide before the whistle sounds for a foul by the Englishman on Otamendi. That was probably the last chance…

Off target

Olise grabbed a late winner against Boca, but the Frenchman’s latest effort is always rising. Trubin will take his time over the resultant goal-kick…

Power of the punch

Trubin punches clear with authority, accidentally catching Pavlović in the process. Eight additional minutes for Bayern to find an equaliser…

Trubin!

The Benfica stopper with his best save yet, the Ukrainian throwing up an arm to block Sané’s attempted chip in a one-on-one initiated by Kane’s brilliant pass.

High and wide

The shot’s on for Sané, but he’s on his unfavoured right side and shoots over.

Bayern keep coming

Silva does really well to prevent Kane turning Laimer’s back-post cross goalwards. It really is backs to the wall for Benfica!

One-way traffic

Bayern are camped inside the Benfica half as the red shirts fend off a couple of probing runs from Olise and Sané. Laimer then swings over a cross that Trubin does well to hold.

Nearly moments

Bayern have found another gear since the introduction of Kimmich, Olise and Kane at the break. Will they get their reward?

There’s the swap

Sanches can’t continue against his former club. Adrian Bajrami, on a yellow card coming into the game, is his replacement in the Benfica midfield.

Stoppage

Sanches gone down with what looks like a muscular problem. The Benfica physios are on…

Denied!

Benfica are all at sea as Olise swings a ball in towards the six-yard area. Pavlović takes on the shot after Müller flicks it on, the Bayern youngster firing at Trubin’s outstretched leg from point-blank range.

Final push

What have the Bayern players got in the tank as they chase top spot in Group C?

Cooling break

Water and ice all round. Bayern are going to finish second behind Benfica, unless they can get a result in the final 20 minutes or so. Over in Nashville, already eliminated Auckland are level against third-placed Boca.

Breakaway chance

The game’s getting stretched as Kökcü races forward on the counter. He could go for goal, but elects to pull back a pass that’s cleared.

Off the post!

Moments after Kane goes down in the box trying to meet an Olise cross, Laimer sends a shot against the woodwork. Trubin didn’t move!

Laimer for Boey

Another change, this one at right-back, with Bayern in the ascendancy…

Disallowed goal!

Kimmich wheels away in celebration after finding the bottom corner from 18 yards, but it won’t count. Kane was offside and obscuring the goalkeeper’s view.

Tah-da!

Bayern also go for a like-for-like change as new signing Tah replaces Upamecano at the back. He meets a corner with his first touch, but doesn’t make the desired connection to trouble Trubin.

Neuer to the rescue

Bayern’s skipper gets down really well to prevent Benfica substitute Kerem Aktürkoglu from finding the back of the net with virtually his first touch. Orkun Kökcü has also come on for the Portuguese side.

Bayern turn the screw

Olise breezes past his marker on the right-hand side, but his cut-back is hoofed clear. Pavlović then sends a rising drive over the crossbar following a flowing passing move. It’s been all Bayern since the restart.

Double chance!

Trubin is at it again, this time closing down the angle to prevent Sané applying the finishing touch to Kimmich’s sublime through-ball. Bayern win it back and work an opening for Müller, whose shot from inside the area is straight at the goalkeeper.

Kimmich the conductor

Another brilliant ball from the Bayern sub forces Trubin to race off his line to prevent a white shirt directing it goalwards.

Bayern MkII

Kimmich swings in a free-kick that Pavlidis does really well to head clear. Encouraging start to the second period from Bayern…

Here comes the cavalry

Kimmich, Kane and Olise – who has a tournament-leading five goal contributions at the Club World Cup – are on for Bischof, Palhinha and Gnabry as the second half gets going.

Half-time: Benfica 1-0 Bayern

Bayern trail at the break in energy-sapping conditions at the Bank of America Stadium. Big half-time team talk needed from Kompany – his side have really struggled in the first half against a Benfica outfit currently going through as group winners.

Müller!

Sané swings a brilliant cross into the penalty area for Müller, who’s goal side of his marker but off balance. In the end, the ball hits him mid-air and trickles through to Trubin.

Bayern’s best chance!

Gnabry drives towards the byline and cuts a teasing ball back towards the edge of the area for Sané, but he can’t keep his shot down.

Service resumed

Prestianni drenches himself in water before returning to the field of play.

Man down

Both sets of players take on more fluid after Benfica’s Prestianni receives treatment on the pitch. Hard to tell if this is heat related or an injury…

Speculative

Tidy build-up from Benfica, but Di Maria’s attempt from the left of the Bayern area sails harmlessly off target.

Promising

Bayern go on the attack with Gnabry, who cuts into the box from the left before having a rising strike charged down.

Suitably refreshed

The players are back out after taking on fluid and ice. Bayern’s subs are in the dressing room, though, taking shelter from the baking heat.

Water, water

Bayern work the ball up the left-hand side, but the attack breaks down when it’s shifted inside and Bischof’s first touch evades him. The players then head off for a much-needed cooling break…

Advantage Benfica

Schjeldrup’s opening goal has silenced the Bayern fans in attendance. Kompany may already be weighing up his plan B. Meanwhile, Boca have taken the lead against Auckland in Nashville…

Nervy moment

Neuer races out of his goal to deal with a long ball, his attempted clearance hitting the back of Upamecano and ballooning behind for a Benfica corner. This isn’t like Bayern at all…

Caution

The free-kick comes to nothing after ex-Bayern man Sanches was booked for a foul on Müller. Kompany doesn’t look too impressed right now.

Pavlidis on the charge

Upamecano can’t catch Pavlidis as the Benfica forward races in on the Bayern goal. It opens up for him, but he decides to throw himself to the deck in search of a penalty that was never going to be given. A waste for Benfica, but a let-off for Bayern.

Mazy run

Di Maria rolls back the years with a jinking run into the Bayern box. He skips past a couple of challenges, before going to ground under muted penalty appeals. Nothing in that.

Benfica lead!

Well, well. Benfica move top of the live standings after taking the lead in North Carolina. Aursnes goes on the overlap and pulls a cross back to the centre of the Bayern area for Schjeldrup to sweep a finish into the bottom corner. Kompany’s crew trail for the first time at the finals…

Andreas Schjelderup

GOAL!

1:0

The Goatkeeper

Neuer makes a sprawling save to push Di Maria’s daisy-cutter wide. Fantastic goalkeeping from the Bayern captain – but what’s new?

Raw pace

Bayern try to break after clearing a Benfica corner, but Gnabry’s through-ball has too much on it for Sané.

Warning signs

Bayern swarm as Di Maria concedes possession. Sané slips a pass into the box for Müller, whose back-post cross is headed behind for a corner that also comes to nothing. Nervy start by Benfica.

Purposeful

Solid start by Bayern. As was the case in their previous Group C fixtures, they’re circulating the ball with confidence.

Under way!

The sun’s beating down on the Bank of America Stadium. Will Bayern make it three wins from three?

Kick-off!

Who is Tom Bischof?

Bayern debutant Bischof made 31 Bundesliga appearances for Hoffenheim in 2024/25, the 19-year-old producing five goals and two assists. He also won his first senior Germany camp at the recently ended UEFA Nations League Final Four competition, in another measure of his talent.

Fan favourites

The biggest applause around the WWE-style entrances is reserved for Müller and Neuer. Popular figures at home and abroad, and rightly so.

Teams out

One by one, out come the red shirts of Benfica. Bayern will be up next, in their change white strip.

One of a kind

Müller makes his record-extending 754th competitive appearance for Bayern today. Remember, he’ll leave the defending Bundesliga champions at the end of the Club World Cup. Winning the thing would be a fitting swan song for the legendary one-club man.

Group C permutations

A reminder that Bayern will progress as group winners, as long as they avoid defeat. Second-placed Benfica can only overtake the record champions with a win, but are also in danger of missing out on the knockouts altogether if they lose and Boca beat Auckland by at least a seven-goal swing.

Sweltering conditions

The mercury’s currently around 36C in North Carolina. Kompany’s pitchside, where he tells DAZN his changes are “common sense”, given the conditions and with Bayern already through to the knockouts. He also teases using the likes of Kane and Musiala in the second half, as Benfica tire.

More on those teams

Kompany makes seven changes to the team that started the Boca win. Sacha Boey and Dayot Upamecano come back into the defence, with Joao Palhinha and new signing Tom Bischof handed starts in midfield. Leroy Sané makes his first start of the finals and potentially final Bayern appearance before a 1 July move to Galatasaray, while Thomas Müller is recalled in attack. The likes of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala are among the subs. Benfica also mix things up after routing Auckland 6-0 last time out, with former Bayern midfielder Renato Sanches among the players to come in. There’s also a start for ex-Mainz man Leandro Barreiro.

Bayern starting line-up

Neuer (c) – Boey, Stanišić, Upamecano, Guerreiro – Palhinha, Pavlović – Sané, Bischof, Gnabry – Müller

Bayern subs

Peretz, Urbig, Tah, Kimmich, Goretzka, Kane, Coman, Olise, Laimer, Kiala, Kusia-Asare, Musiala, Karl, Santos, Aznou

Benfica starting line-up

Trubin – Aursnes, António Silva, Otamendi (c), Dahl – Di María, Renato Sanches, Prestianni, Barreiro, Schjelderup – Pavlidis

Benfica subs

Ferreira, Oliveira, Wynder, Santos, Bajrami, Kokcu, Veloso, Luis, Prioste, Akturkoglu, Bruma, Gouvei, Rrgo

Guerreiro expects tough challenge

“It’ll be a tough game, similar to the one against Boca Juniors,” opined Bayern’s Portugal international all-rounder Raphaël Guerreiro. “We’ll give it everything and want to win. We’ve played well so far. Benfica are a strong side. I’m looking forward to it”

Pavlović ready to sweat

“I’m someone who likes the heat. I prefer it to the wet and cold,” said Bayern midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović, with temperatures set to climb as high as 40C in Charlotte later today. “If we want to win a tournament, we have to beat everyone,” he added of the Benfica challenge.

Bruno Lage on the challenge of facing Bayern

“They’re the best. We want to play a great game, a game that allows us to move on. We know it’s important for us, but we also know that Benfica’s interests don’t end tomorrow. And, as such, we’re going to field the best XI at the moment in order to win. We’re going to play a very good team. They have a very interesting dynamic, especially out wide, with all sorts of crosses to get the ball to the far post. We’ve been working hard on that. But there are things I can’t give the team: one is height, another is innate, natural aggression. And we all have to realise that we have to be much more aggressive.”

Kompany on his expectations

“I know how they played against us in the Champions League. They were very compact in a 5-3-2 formation. We penned them in at times. If you saw them against Boca, they were more aggressive. We need to prepare for both or even some other scenarios. If they press high or sit back, we need to be prepared for everything.”

Kompany on the high temperatures expected in Charlotte

“It’s obviously a factor. It can influence a game, but it’s the same for both teams. It’s not the same as a Champions League game in winter. We’ll plan for it and not be surprised by the heat,” the Belgian said of the current heat advisory in North Carolina, with temperatures set to reach 40 Celsius by kick-off on Tuesday.

Vincent Kompany talks Benfica

“We’ve played them before, know them well. It’s always special when we play against teams who are dominant in their league. When they then play against teams like us, they often play with a mix of what they normally do and an approach that’s adapted for the opponent.”

Full contingent at Bayern training

Every one of the 29 members of Bayern’s Club World Cup squad trained in Orlando ahead of their final match. The team were put through their paces both in the gym and on the training pitch, with Michael Olise taking over responsibilities as session DJ!

Watch: Highlights from Bayern’s Boca win

Previous meetings

These two sides have met a total of 13 times, with Bayern yet to lose against the Lisbon side since their first meeting in the 1975/76 European Cup, which is now the Champions League. The Bavarians’ record stands at 10 wins and three draws so far, with the most recent clash between the two coming in the 2024/25 Champions League campaign, where Bayern won 1-0 thanks to a Jamal Musiala header.

What lies ahead?

Having won their opening two games, Bayern have booked their ticket to the round of 16. There, they will face a team from Group D: Flamengo of Brazil, Premier League side Chelsea or Tunisian side Espérance Tunis. Los Angeles FC are out.

2:34

Watch: A tour around Bayern’s Club World Cup hotel

Jonas Urbig and Kingsley Coman show you around Bayern Munich’s hotel in Orlando for the duration of the 2025 Club World Cup in the USA.

Their opponents

Benfica have won one and drawn the other of their two games so far, starting their tournament with a draw with Bayern’s recent opponents, Boca, before beating Auckland City 6-0. Their squad contains former Bayern man Renato Sanches, as well as former RB Leipzig winger, Bruma.

1:15

Watch: Bayern’s 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors – animated!

Experience Bayern Munich’s 2-1 win over Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup in a new light…

Top of the tree

A 10-0 win in their opening game against Auckland City followed by a narrow 2-1 win over Boca Juniors on 21 June puts Bayern at the top of Group C ahead of their meeting with Benfica on Tuesday. The Portuguese giants currently sit second in the group, just two points behind Vincent Kompany’s men.

Welcome!

Bayern Munich’s third and final game of Group C at the FIFA Club World Cup is against Portuguese giants Benfica in Charlotte on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 3pm local time (9pm CEST). Stay tuned for match build-up, coverage and reaction here.

Match stats

Bayern had never preioulsy lost against Benfica in 13 meetings (W10, D3).
This was Bayern’s first-ever defeat at a Club World Cup.
Renato Sanches won two Bundesliga titles and made 53 appearances for Bayern after signing from Benfica in 2016.
Bayern have scored 20 goals and conceded just twice in seven Club World Cup outings.
The record Bundesliga champions have won the competition on their two previous appearances.
Neuer and Müller are among the players still on the Bayern books that lifted the Club World Cup in 2013 and 2021.

Teams

Benfica: Trubin – Aursnes, António Silva, Otamendi (c), Dahl – Di María (Rego 86′), Renato Sanches (Bajrami 78′), Prestianni (Kökçü 54′), Barreiro, Schjelderup (Aktürkoğlu 55′) – Pavlidis (Gouveia 87′)
Unused subs: Ferreira, Oliveira, Wynder, Santos, Veloso, Luis, Prioste, Bruma
Out: Belotti (suspended), Florentino (shoulder)
Coach: Bruno Lage

Bayern: Neuer (c) – Boey (Laimer 62′), Stanišić, Upamecano (Tah 58′), Guerreiro – Palhinha (Kimmich 46′), Pavlović – Sané, Bischof (Kane 46′), Gnabry (Olise 46′) – Müller
Unused subs: Peretz, Urbig, Goretzka, Coman, Kiala, Kusia-Asare, Musiala, Karl, Santos, Aznou
Out: Buchmann (shoulder), Davies (knee), Dier (transfer), Ito (metatarsal), Kim (achilles)
Coach: Vincent Kompany

As it happened!

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