Super Bayern down Tigres to make history

FC Bayern made history on Thursday, beating Tigres UANL 1-0 to win the FIFA Club World Cup. Bayern were dominant for long spells and had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half, but Benjamin Pavard scored the match-winner early in the second half, firing Bayern to their fourth intercontintal title and the sixth title in a year, a feat only achieved by Barcelona in 2009.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Pavard, Niklas Süle, Lucas Hernández and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba anchored a midfield featuring Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman, with Robert Lewandowski up front. Corentin Tolisso, Jamal Musiala, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Douglas Costa took over from Gnabry, Sané, Coman and Lewandowski midway through the second half.

Kimmich's hit ruled out

The first chance fell to the Mexican side, André Gignac seeing a header deflected wide, but Bayern soon seized control. Keeper Nahuel Guzman denied Coman before Lewandowski miscued, Julian Quinones blasting wide at the other end before Neuer beat the striker to a through-ball.

Bayern had the ball in the back of the net when Joshua Kimmich's belter beat Guzman, only for Lewandowski to be flagged offside. Guzman denied the industrious Davies and Coman, Sané seeing his shot crashing off the outside of the post. Chances proved far and few between until the break, with Bayern uninspired in attack, and the contest was goalless at half-time.

Pavard seals it

The Reds had more impetus after the interval. Sané miscued a header and Gnabry fired just over, but a goal was coming and arrived when Guzman parried a Lewandowski header, Pavard dispatching the rebound. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but counted after VAR intervention.

Tolisso glanced a header wide and Alaba fired over, Guzman directing a Tolisso shot onto the post. A big scare came when the ball only just evaded Gignac in the box, but Carlos Salcedo almost put through his own goal, Guzman making a last-ditch save. The Tigres keeper denied Costa and Kimmich, Choupo-Moting firing over, but the Reds saw it out to round off their second FIFA Club World Cup title.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen