Bayern beat Boca to progress to knockouts

FC Bayern beat Boca Juniors 2-1 to advance to the Club World Cup round of 16 with a game to spare. Harry Kane handed Bayern an early lead, with Miguel Merentiel levelling the scores midway through the second half. Michael Olise’s goal in the closing stages sealed a deserved victory.

Bayern started with the Manuel Neuer in goal and Konrad Laimer, Jonathan Tah, Josip Stanišić and Raphaël Guerreiro in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Serge Gnabry, Olise and Kingsley Coman, with Kane up front. Aleksandar Pavlović, Jamal Musiala, Dayot Upamecano and Leroy Sané came on for Goretzka, Gnabry, Guerreiro and Coman in the second half before Musiala had to be replaced with a knock, Thomas Müller taking over.

Kane on target

Bayern were dominant from the off and Olise soon found the net, but the goal was disallowed because Gnabry impeded keeper Agustin Marchesin. Coman fired over, but Munich took the lead when Laimer’s cross was cleared only as far as Kane, who found the bottom corner of the net.

An Olise square found Gnabry, who missed an open goal. Neuer made two saves against Kevin Zenon, with Marchesin denying Olise at the other end. Bayern were awarded a number of free-kicks, but Marchesin proved equal to Olise’s effort and Kane’s curler went just over.

Olise seals it

Olise saw a shot saved and a Kane effort was blocked, but Boca levelled the scores on the break when Merentiel sidestepped Tah and Stanišić before beating Neuer.

Vincent Kompany’s men restored the lead with ten minutes to go, Kane laying off for Olise to smash home. Laimer beat Marchesin after a one-two with Müller, but the goal was chalked off for offisde. Sané’s square to Olise was intercepted before the latter hit the side-netting as Bayern claimed a narrow but deserved victory.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Tuesday when they battle it out with Benfica for top spot.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen