Bayern Munich and Flamengo are set to clash in a high-stakes round of 16 match at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, taking place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. This marks the first-ever competitive fixture between these two football giants, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the encounter.
Team News and Form
Bayern Munich enters the match looking to rebound after an unexpected 1-0 defeat to Benfica in their final group stage match. Despite the loss, Bayern had already secured their place in the knockout phase with dominant victories over Auckland City (10-0) and Boca Juniors (2-1). Coach Vincent Kompany opted to rotate the squad against Benfica, a decision that ultimately cost them the top spot in Group C. However, this also means key players are fresh for the crucial match against Flamengo.
Flamengo, on the other hand, comes into the match with momentum as the Group D champions. The Brazilian side impressed with convincing wins over Espérance Tunis (2-0) and Chelsea (3-1), followed by a 1-1 draw against LAFC with a rotated squad. They are currently on an 11-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Predicted Lineups and Key Players
Bayern Munich is expected to field a full-strength squad after resting key players against Benfica. This means the return of Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Kingsley Coman to lead the attack, with Jonathan Tah bolstering the defense. Jamal Musiala, who has yet to start in the tournament, could also feature in the starting lineup. However, Bayern will be without key defenders Kim Min-jae, Alphonso Davies, and Hiroki Ito due to injuries. The predicted lineup includes Neuer, Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Guerreiro, Kimmich, Goretzka, Olise, Musiala, Coman and Kane.
Flamengo will miss Nicolás de la Cruz due to injury. However, coach Tite is expected to recall several key players after rotating the squad against LAFC. Gerson, Erick Pulgar, and Jorginho are likely to return to the midfield, while Ayrton Lucas and Léo Pereira should strengthen the defense. Giorgian De Arrascaeta, who has been in excellent form with nine goals in nine Brasileirão matches, will be a player to watch. The predicted lineup is Rossi, Wesley, Danilo, Pereira, Sandro, Pulgar, Jorginho, Gerson, De Arrascaeta, L. Araújo, and Plata.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Bayern Munich's strengths lie in their potent attack, led by Kane, Olise, and Coman, and their overall squad depth. However, injuries to key defenders could leave them vulnerable at the back. Flamengo's strengths are their solid defense, unbeaten form, and the momentum gained from topping their group, including a win against Chelsea. Their weakness is the absence of the injured De la Cruz.
Match Details and Streaming Information
The match will take place on June 29 in the United States and June 30 in India. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM ET (June 29) / 1:30 AM IST (June 30). In the United States, the match will be streamed live on DAZN, FIFA's global broadcast partner for the tournament, and broadcast live on Channel 5 in some regions. Currently, there is no broadcaster for India.
The winner of this match will advance to the quarter-finals to face either Paris Saint-Germain or Inter Miami CF.
