Five Observations from Bayern Munich’s 1-0 loss against SL Benfica in the Club World Cup

A heavily rotated Bayern Munich endured a difficult game in challenging conditions against Benfica, and despite a strong fight back in the second half, would ultimately succumb to a 1-0 defeat. This is the first time Die Rekordmeister have ever lost against the Portuguese side.

After finishing second in Group C, Bayern Munich will play Flamengo from Group D on June 29th.

These were the biggest takeaways from Bayern’s lackadaisical performance.

Vincent Kompany’s rationale is questionable

On paper, out of Bayern’s three FIFA Club World Cup Group C opponents, Benfica is certainly the most challenging match up, so it would make sense to play your strongest team against them. According to Kompany apparently not.

Kompany would choose Bayern’s most difficult game with perhaps the most riding on it — top spot in Group C — to rotate seven players from his preferred starting line-up. Colour me crazy but that doesn’t make any sense.

Sure, the coach needs to manage the players’ fatigue but then why on earth are you fielding your strongest side in a no mercy style approach against a semi-professional side such as Auckland City in the first game of the group stage?

Surely it would have been wiser for Kompany to feature a more heavily rotated side against Auckland City and have his strongest side take on Benfica.

The rotation was clearly visible

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany went with a heavily rotated starting line-up against Benfica, featuring seven changes from the eleven that started against Boca Juniors, and it showed.

Static, slow and uninspired. That’s the absolute best that can be said about Bayern’s first half showing.

Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich and Michael Olise all came on in the second half making an immediate impact; however, it wasn’t enough to get Bayern back into the game.

Bayern couldn’t handle the heat. Literally

In defence of the players, specifically the seven rotated into Bayern’s starting eleven, the heat was particularly challenging and likely a reason the first half showing was so poor.

Temperatures peaking at 96°F, or 36°C for those who prefer the metric system, slowed the game down and heavily favoured Benfica, who chose their moments to exert their energy, breaking on the counter-attack.

Either way, the midday summer heat didn’t help either side, nor the quality of football for that matter.

Is the FIFA Club World Cup actually worth it?

After a long, arduous, injury-stricken season, I’m not sure running around in the midday summer heat in a half empty stadium for a tournament that no one cares about is what the players need.

Bayern are plagued by injuries almost every single season. The players have already played through an expanded Champions League format, and now the play another tournament in unfavourable conditions. The players don’t need more games, they need rest.

Although, Bayern will be happy since the money generated from the tournament is helping the club bounce back from a potential loss in the financial year, which is great since profit is the best way the club can protect the players from overexertion and injury.

Leroy Sané’s finishing is appalling

Leroy Sané is an anomaly. He either runs red hot or ice cold, there is very rarely an in-between.

Today, unfortunately, Sané was ice cold, missing three very good opportunities to get Bayern back into the game, including two one on one’s.

Perhaps Sané already has one eye on Galatasaray, but either way, his poor finishing isn’t going to be Bayern’s problem for much longer.

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