Disappointment was evident on the faces of FC Bayern München as they departed Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, and with good reason. After a sparkling start to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ with victories over Auckland City FC and CA Boca Juniors, Bayern succumbed 1-0 to SL Benfica in their Group C finale to finish second in the group.
The German giants were plagued by a slow start, as Benfica tallied a first half goal that held until the final whistle. Despite pegging the Portuguese back deep in their own half for much of the second stanza, the equaliser never arrived, leaving goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and his team-mates frustrated at the second-place finish.
Yet the incisive nature of the Bayern attack after the introductions of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich at half-time suggests that it was simply a day in which luck was not on their side. If anything, Neuer, is taking confidence from their performance in the second 45 and believes it will suit them well the rest of the way.
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“The start of the first half wasn’t that good, but you saw another team in the second half with the tempo we played, the possession we had and how we defended as well,” said Neuer to FIFA. “It was much better than how we started in the first half and I think the intensity was much higher. If we play the ball quick, if we have high-tempo actions, we create a lot of chances, but we missed the momentum today and that was the key.
“Of course, [Anatoliy] Trubin was a great goalkeeper today and he performed very well. We missed the situation where Harry [Kane] was in offside, it was a great shot from Joshua [Kimmich], but all these little things and details created the loss,” added Neuer.
Bayern’s slip-up sets up a Round of 16 showdown with Brazilian side CR Flamengo, who have taken the tournament by storm. If there was any lesson Neuer is taking from the Benfica loss, it is that playing with urgency from the opening whistle will be needed to counter Flamengo’s high-octane football.
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“We need to start with intensity in our next game with Flamengo,” said Neuer. “Honestly, I’m feeling positive because of the second half and what we achieved with our team, how we created the chances. If we can go 90 minutes with this tempo and how we created our chances, I feel positive for the tournament.”
