A draw would suit both sides in a hellish atmosphere—quite literally

The final hurdle of the Club World Cup group stage is here, and Bayern Munich are set to take on Portuguese giants Benfica in Charlotte. Kickoff is set for 22.00. While progression to the round of 16 is already secured, Vincent Kompany’s side has no intention of easing off the gas—they want to finish top of the group.

After dismantling Auckland City 10-0 and edging past Boca Juniors 2-1, Bayern remain undefeated heading into their last group game. One more point would guarantee first place, but for Kompany and his players, only victory is on their minds. "We're not talking about a draw," said the Bayern boss in Monday’s press conference. "We don't want to lose our rhythm and quality," he added, underlining the team's winning mentality.

The challenge against Benfica, however, won’t be limited to the pitch. Charlotte’s intense heat—forecasted to hit nearly 40 degrees Celsius at kickoff—adds another layer of difficulty. "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," Kompany noted.

Benfica, last season’s Primeira Liga runners-up, have had a solid start to the tournament. They staged a comeback in their wild 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors, a match that saw three red cards. Against Auckland City, play was interrupted for over two hours due to a thunderstorm, but once the skies cleared, Benfica found their rhythm, cruising to a 6-0 win that eliminated the New Zealand club.

Now, a draw against Bayern would be enough to see them through. Still, coach Bruno Lage knows the task ahead is daunting. "We know they're very difficult opponents," he said ahead of the showdown. He emphasized the need for thorough preparation, especially given that Bayern "play and defend very aggressively." Still, spirits in the Portuguese camp remain high following their unbeaten start. "We believe we can win the game."

With both teams chasing their own objectives, we can expect a high-stakes battle in the Charlotte heat.

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025

Matchday 3

Tuesday

Inter Miami - Palmeiras 2-2 (1-0)

/Allende 16, Suarez 65 - Paulinho 80, Mauricio 87/

Porto - Al Ahly Cairo 4-4 (1-2)

/Mora 23, Gomes 50, Aghehowa 53, Pepe 89 - Abou Ali 15, 45+2 pen, 51, Romdhane 64/

22:00: (50.0) Auckland (25.0) Boca Juniors (1.01)

22:00: (4.65) Benfica (3.20) Bayern (1.95)