Bayern Munich will look to seal their place in the last-16 of the Club World Cup as they take on South American giants Boca Juniors in Miami in the early hours of Friday morning.
Bayern Munich made all the headlines in their group opener on Sunday, as they thrashed Auckland City 10-0 in Cincinnati on an afternoon where our man Adam picked out a couple of winners.
Vincent Kompany’s men were already 6-0 up at halftime before a second-half hat trick for Jamal Musialla and a second goal for legendary frontman Thomas Muller sealed the historic win.
Boca Juniors also made a fast start to their Club World Cup campaign, as they raced into a two-goal lead against Portuguese giants Benfica after just 27 minutes.
However, the 35-time Argentinian champions were denied victory due to two Argentinians, as an Angel Di Maria penalty before the break and a late Nicolas Otamendi header denied them victory.
With both Boca and Benfica expected to breeze past Auckland City, Miguel Angel Russo knows his side would take a significant step in qualification to the last 16 if they can take anything against the Bundesliga champions.
How the bookies view it: Bayern clear favourites
Unsurprisingly, Bayern Munich come into this clash as clear favourites, with BoyleSports pricing them up at just 2/11.
The same firm has a shock Boca win at a massive 11/1, whilst the draw is 11/2.
Head to head: Bayern triumph
These two sides only previous meeting came in the now-defunct Intercontinental Cup final back in 2001, with a Samuel Kuffour goal in extra time sealing the trophy for the Germans.
Players to watch: More Musiala magic?
Despite beginning the game on the bench, Jamal Musiala scored a 23-minute hat trick in Bayern’s thrashing of Auckland City, and the German international is 6/5 at BoyleSports to get on the scoresheet here.
Boca’s captain and top-scorer this season, Miguel Merentiel, opened the scoring against Benfica on Sunday and is 4/1 at BoyleSports to add to his eight-goal tally in all competitions this season.
Predicted line-ups:
Vincent Kompany is expected to make a similar starting 11 to the one that started that demolition of Auckland City, but I’d expect hat trick hero Jamal Musiala to come in from the start.
Boca will be without centre-back Jorge Figal and Ex-Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera following their red cards against Benfica.
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Boey, Tah, Stanisic, Guerreiro, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Olise, Musiala, Coman, Kane
Boca Juniors: Marchesin, Advincula, Rojo, Costa, Blanco, Belmonte, Battaglia, Zenon, Velasco, Palacios, Merentiel
Anything else catch the eye?
Bayern showed no mercy against Auckland City on Sunday, and whilst no one is expecting the Bundesliga champions to repeat that historical scoreline, they should have too much firepower for the Argentinians.
Bayern scored 3+ goals in 22/34 (65%) of their Bundesliga fixtures this season – as well as in their group opener against the New Zealanders – and I like the look of them scoring at least three times here, which is 3/4 at BoyleSports.
Michael Olise has had a great impact since signing from Crystal Palace last summer and scored a stunning brace against Auckland City on Sunday, and the 6/4 at BoyleSports for him to score also appeals.
GambleAware