Verdict: Harry Kane to score
Best odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Unibet
Bayern Munich have the chance to book their place in the Club World Cup round of 16 on Saturday morning, as they face Boca Juniors at Hard Rock Stadium in their second Group B fixture.
The German giants currently top the group after a dominant 10-0 victory over Auckland City in their opening match on June 15. Meanwhile, Boca Juniors sit third with just one point, having drawn 2-2 with Benfica in their first outing on June 16.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich kicked off the redesigned Club World Cup in dominant fashion, steamrolling part-time outfit Auckland City 10-0 in a lopsided opener where they led 6-0 by half-time.
Vincent Kompany’s side barely broke a sweat, facing just one shot — in the 80th minute — while registering 31 efforts of their own and creating seven big chances. That emphatic performance took their goal tally to 26 in their last six matches, during which they’ve also recorded five clean sheets.
With their unbeaten run now stretching to eight matches — including five wins in their past six — Bayern can secure early qualification for the round of 16 with victory over Boca Juniors on Saturday. However, that will only be confirmed if Benfica fail to beat Auckland in Friday’s fixture.
Team News
Kompany is expected to stick with a largely unchanged lineup, though Dayot Upamecano could partner Jonathan Tah in central defence ahead of captain Manuel Neuer, adding extra physical presence at the back.
In midfield, Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic are likely to continue their double pivot after excelling in the opener, while up front, Harry Kane will be eager to open his account at the tournament. The England captain is set to lead the line, flanked by Kingsley Coman and new signing Michael Olise.
Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors battled to a commendable 2-2 draw against Portuguese heavyweights Benfica on Monday, though frustration will linger after letting a two-goal cushion — provided by Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Andrés Battaglia by the 27th minute — slip away.
Still, holding a high-quality European side highlighted the Argentinians’ competitiveness on the global stage and reinforced the notion that South American clubs can stand toe-to-toe with their European counterparts.
Domestically, Miguel Russo’s side sit second in Group A of Argentina’s Primera División first phase, with 33 points from 16 games. However, their recent form has been inconsistent, with one win, one defeat, and two draws in their last four matches, following a stretch of six wins in seven.
Across their past seven outings in all competitions, Boca have scored 10 times and conceded seven, a modest return that speaks to both attacking potential and defensive vulnerability.
Team News
Heading into Saturday’s showdown with Bayern Munich, Boca must make adjustments at the back. Centre-back Nicolas Figal is suspended following his red card against Benfica, opening the door for a central pairing of Ayrton Costa and Marcos Rojo.
In midfield, Ander Herrera — who exited with an injury and was later sent off from the bench — is another absentee. As a result, Russo may turn to a duo of Tomás Belmonte and Rodrigo Battaglia in the engine room.
Up front, with Merentiel sidelined due to an injury picked up on matchday one, Exequiel Zeballos could be promoted into the attacking trio to fill the void left by Boca’s early scorer.
Conclusion
Boca Juniors are expected to pose a far greater test for Bayern than Auckland did, and they could certainly create moments of danger in front of Manuel Neuer’s goal.
Nevertheless, the Bavarians’ attacking depth and overall quality should ultimately be enough to see them prevail in Saturday morning’s encounter, with Kane likely to make his mark.
Verdict: Harry Kane to score
Best odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Unibet
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