Boca Juniors participated in an exciting match at the Club World Cup, drawing 2-2 with Benfica in a lively game.
Miguel Angel Russo's team took an early 2-0 lead, but Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi of Benfica equalized for the Eagles.
Boca will look to maintain their high energy levels as they face Bayern in Group C, who recently won 10-0 against Auckland City. Although Bayern had a big victory in the previous match, the upcoming game is expected to be more challenging.
Team news
Ander Herrera and Nicolas Figal are suspended for Boca Juniors due to red cards in the last game. Edinson Cavani may miss this match as well.
Bayern will be without Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito, and Min-Jae Kim. Jamal Musiala is likely to start after scoring a hat-trick as a substitute in the previous match.
The stats
Against Benfica, Boca made 34 clearances and won most of the aerial duels.
Bayern won by a two-goal margin in only five out of 14 Champions League games in the 2024-25 season.
All South American teams remained undefeated in their first matches of the tournament.
During their 10-0 win over Auckland City, Bayern had 31 shots and an xG of 4.28.
Boca limited Benfica to eight shots and both teams had two big chances each.
Bayern capitalized on high-pressure tactics against Auckland, a strategy Boca did not use in their first game.
Prediction
Bayern are strong favorites following their 10-0 victory, but they may face a tougher challenge against Boca Juniors. Boca's solid defensive performance against Benfica showed their ability to defend well.
Boca's defensive tactics, such as winning aerial battles and making clearances, were effective in the previous game. In contrast, Bayern's pressing caused multiple turnovers by Auckland City in their defensive zone.
Expect Boca to be more cautious in possession in their defensive third, making it harder for Bayern to create scoring opportunities.
Given the strong showing by South American teams in the tournament so far, Boca could keep the match competitive. Considering Bayern's less frequent dominance in European matches, Boca with a +2 handicap could be a smart choice.