The Bundesliga title holders Bayern Munich began their Club World Cup journey with a historic 10-0 victory over Auckland City before edging past Boca Juniors 2-1 to secure a spot in the round of 16.
In their upcoming match on Tuesday, they will go head-to-head against Benfica in Charlotte. Benfica are currently two points behind Bayern Munich and a draw at Bank of America Stadium will be enough for them to advance to the next stage.
Bruno Lage's squad fought back to draw 2-2 with Boca in their first match and then dominated Auckland with a 6-0 win.
Benfica have to be cautious as Boca are expected to perform well against Auckland. A slip-up could cost Benfica dearly.
Nevertheless, Benfica have never managed to defeat Bayern Munich. This could pose a challenge, and they may have to rely on hoping that Azul y Oro do not surpass their goal difference.
Team news
Benfica's convincing victory over Auckland City indicates that Lage will likely field an unchanged lineup.
However, defender Alvaro Carreras is suspended, and there might be uncertainty around midfielder Orkun Kokcu due to a disagreement with the coach after being substituted in the Orlando triumph.
Midfielder Florentino Luis is dealing with a shoulder injury, but striker Andrea Belotti might be back in contention if his two-match suspension for a red card against Boca is overturned.
Renato Sanches could make an appearance against his former team Bayern. Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala has returned to training after sustaining a hamstring injury, which means Serge Gnabry could retain his spot, although Thomas Muller is another viable option to start as Vincent Kompany aims to keep key players fresh for the knockout stages.
The statistics
Bayern Munich has triumphed in both of their Group C matches with a combined scoreline of 12-1.
Benfica have gathered four points after drawing with Boca Juniors and defeating Auckland City, and they are aware that even a draw will see them through to the next round.
Musiala scored the lone goal when the two clubs met in the 2024-25 Champions League. He has scored thrice in the Club World Cup, the same as team-mate Michael Olise and Benfica's Angel Di Maria.
Prior to the 1-0 victory, four out of the previous five meetings between these teams had witnessed four or more goals.
Bayern Munich has never been defeated by Benfica in their 13 encounters and have clinched the Club World Cup twice, in 2013 and 2021.
Prediction
There were doubts when Bayern appointed Kompany as their head coach in the summer of 2024, but he and his team progressed and eventually secured the Bundesliga title with a comfortable margin.
Although their Champions League exit to Inter Milan was disappointing, they aim to make a statement in the USA.
Bayern displayed dominance against Auckland City and exhibited determination in their victory over Boca. A goal from Harry Kane and an assist from Olise, alongside Miguel Merentiel's equalizer, sealed their place in the next round.
Benfica also sailed past Auckland after a remarkable comeback against Boca. However, a loss could lead to elimination, depending on Boca's performance.
Having previously lost to Bayern in the Champions League, Benfica might struggle once more. The history suggests a more competitive encounter in North Carolina.