The last group match of the Club World Cup is coming up! FC Bayern wrap up the group stage with a game against Portuguese record champions Benfica in Charlotte (live text from 21:00 CEST and 15:00 local time on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app). The men from Munich have already secured their place in the round of 16 - now head coach Vincent Kompany's side intend to make sure they win their group. We’ve put together all the key information for you in our preview.
The photos from Monday’s final training session:
Latest news from Bayern
FC Bayern are unbeaten heading into the final matchday of the group stage. Harry Kane and Co. followed up their 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City in the opener with a 2-1 win over Boca Juniors. Although this means they've already secured their place in the last 16, the men from Munich are determined not to let up by a single percentage point. Bayern need at least one point against Benfica to secure top spot in the group. Head coach Kompany left no doubt at Monday's press conference that his team will be playing for the win. "We're not talking about a draw," the 39-year-old emphasised. "We don't want to lose our rhythm and quality," he added.
Bayern must prepare for extreme conditions against Benfica, with temperatures of almost 40 degrees expected in Charlotte by tghe time the game kicks off. "That's obviously a factor. It can influence a game, but it's the same for both teams. We'll plan for it and not let the heat take us by surprise," said Kompany.
Meanwhile, preparations for the match were somewhat different than for the previous two games, as the men from Munich are familiar with Benfica from numerous encounters in the Champions League, most recently last November (1-0 for FC Bayern in Munich). "It's always special when we play against teams who are dominant in their league. When they play against teams like us, they often mix up what they normally do with a style adapted to their opponents," explained Kompany. "We have to prepare for both scenarios: whether they press high up or sit deep, we have to be ready for every eventuality."
The opponents: Benfica
The Portuguese runners-up from last season got off to a good start in the tournament. In a turbulent opening match against Boca Juniors (with a total of three red cards), Benfica earned a point after being 2-0 down. With the score at 1-0, the game against Auckland City had to be suspended for almost two and a half hours due to a thunderstorm. When play resumed, the Portuguese turned their dominance into goals and knocked the New Zealanders out of the tournament with a resounding 6-0 win.
A point in the final group game against Bayern would now be enough for Benfica to progress - easier said than done, as coach Bruno Lage knows. "We know they're very difficult opponents," explained the Benfica head coach ahead of the clash with FCB, adding that it would be important for his team to prepare as well as possible for the encounter, especially as Bayern "play and defend very aggressively". Nevertheless, Benfica's confidence is high after remaining unbeaten in their opening two games: "We believe we can win the game."
We've taken a more in-depth look at our upcoming opponents:
Match facts
- A draw or win would see FC Bayern top the group and face the runners-up from Group D (Chelsea or Espérance Tunis) in the round of 16. A defeat would see FCB finish second in the group and face Group D winners CR Flamengo.
- FC Bayern have not lost any of their previous meetings with Benfica (ten wins, three draws) and have scored 36 goals in those matches.
- A trip around the world: After previous matches against teams from Asia, Africa, North/Central America, Oceania and South America, this is FC Bayern's first game against a European team at a FIFA Club World Cup. This means the German record champions will be the first club in the history of the competition to face teams from all six continents.
- Vincent Kompany's side allowed their oppopnents just seven attempts on goal in their first two matches at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup - fewer than any other team.
Check out what Aleksandar Pavlović and his teammates had to say ahead of the game:
Team News
Apart from Minjae Kim, Kompany has a full squad at his disposal for the Benfica clash. Benfica will be without striker Andrea Belotti, who is suspended due to his red card in the opening game against Boca Juniors.
All FIFA Club World Cup matches are being broadcast live and for free by streaming service DAZN, although broadcasters will differ in some countries.
Stay up to date with Bayern at the Club World Cup in our live blog:
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