Bayern Munich opened their Club World Cup campaign in emphatic style on Sunday, demolishing Auckland City 10-0 in a completely one-sided Group C encounter.
The German giants showcased their dominance from start to finish, with Jamal Musiala stealing the spotlight in the second half with a sensational hat-trick off the bench.
From the opening whistle in Cincinnati’s midday sun, Bayern made their intentions clear. Kingsley Coman, Michael Olise, and Thomas Mueller each bagged two goals, while Sacha Boey also found the net. Star striker Harry Kane started the match but failed to get on the scoresheet before being substituted just past the hour mark for Musiala, whose late flurry of goals added gloss to the scoreline.
“It was important to be able to say that we took the game seriously,” said Bayern manager Vincent Kompany. “We have to remain modest. It was a good first match at the tournament, but of course challenges are going to grow and it’s going to become more difficult.”
France winger Coman opened the scoring in the sixth minute with the tournament’s first goal, following the goalless draw between Inter Miami and Al Ahly the previous day. Boey doubled the lead before Coman struck again. Olise then added to the tally, and Mueller contributed the fifth. Olise’s second goal just before halftime was a standout, cutting in from the right and curling a left-footed shot into the far corner, capping a ruthless first-half display.
In the second half, Auckland City managed to hold off further damage temporarily. But the introduction of Musiala reignited Bayern’s attack. The young midfielder made an immediate impact, scoring three goals in an 18-minute spell.
One of them came from the penalty spot after he was brought down in the box. Mueller rounded off the scoreline with Bayern’s tenth goal in the 89th minute—his 250th goal for the club—as he prepares for his departure after the tournament.
Despite their historic dominance in Oceania, having won the Champions League there 13 times, Auckland City were simply outclassed. The team, comprised mostly of amateur players who had to take unpaid leave to travel for the tournament, could only stand in awe.
“This is the reality of football against one of the world’s top teams,” said Ivan Vicelich, Auckland’s interim coach. “It is a dream for players coming from an amateur level to play in this environment. We knew it was going to be a very difficult game, playing against one of the top teams in the world, potentially one of the favourites for the Club World Cup, so we are just really proud of the players’ efforts.”
The result serves as an ideal beginning for Bayern, two-time winners of the Club World Cup in its previous seven-team format, in 2013 and 2020. While they’ve posted bigger wins in the German Cup, Sunday’s match equaled their best-ever Bundesliga margin—a historic 11-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in 1971.
New signing Jonathan Tah also made his Bayern debut in central defence, slotting in seamlessly as the team prepares for tougher fixtures ahead. Bayern will next face South American powerhouse Boca Juniors in Miami on Friday, while Auckland City look to salvage pride in their next game against Benfica in Orlando the same day.
What you should know
Bayern Munich began their Club World Cup journey with a commanding 10-0 win over Auckland City, highlighting the gulf in class between the two teams. Jamal Musiala shone with a second-half hat-trick, while Thomas Mueller notched his 250th goal for the club. The result underlines Bayern’s credentials as tournament favourites.
