Match preview for Bayern Munich v Boca Juniors
Manuel Neuer knows Bayern Munich cannot afford to underestimate Boca Juniors as they face a much more difficult test in their second Club World Cup game.
Bayern crushed Auckland City 10-0 in their Group C opener, Jamal Musiala scoring a hat-trick while Kingsley Coman, Michael Olise and Thomas Muller all found the net twice in a game that saw right-back Sacha Boey open his account for the club.
But the Bundesliga champions are unlikely to have things so easy against Boca, who led 2-0 in their opening game with Benfica before being left to settle for a 2-2 draw.
A penalty from Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi’s late header gave Benfica a share of the spoils in a game that saw three players, two of them from Boca, sent off.
That contest was played in a fiery atmosphere in Miami with Boca backed by raucous fans throughout.
And Neuer is anticipating more of the same as Bayern look to clinch their place in the last 16 with a win.
“We’re definitely expecting a good atmosphere. We saw how the match against Benfica went,” he told Bayern’s official website.
The heat may not be as much of a factor with the game taking place at 9pm local time.
But it is still something Bayern are preparing for, with Neuer adding: “We were able to recharge our batteries and then trained as usual again. We’re getting more and more focused as the game approaches, in terms of analysis of the opposition too, we know exactly what we’ll need in the match.
“We keep increasing the intensity before reducing it a little on the day before the match because the temperatures too play a role.
“We’ll see how all teams fare and get along with the conditions. And the knockout stage will be something else.
“Of course the teams from Europe are the usual suspects, but the teams from South America are not to be underestimated.”
Boca’s hopes of reaching the last 16 may well come down to their final group matchup with Auckland, who will be expected to lose heavily to the Argentine side and Benfica.
But Boca’s focus is entirely on the task they have of trying to upset the odds against Bayern.
“We’re not thinking about Auckland yet, we’re thinking about Bayern Munich now,” coach Miguel Angel Russo said after the draw with Benfica.
“We have to be up to the task. It will be a physical match like today [against Benfica]. They’re a big opponent, historically they’ve won a lot. But Argentine football is big too, and today showed that.
“We welcome these challenges. But we have to know that Friday’s game will be tougher than today’s.”
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Team news for Bayern Munich v Boca Juniors
Bayern ‘s Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito, and Kim Min-Jae are out because of injuries.
Boca are set to be without the two players who were sent off against Benfica, Ander Herrera and Jorge Figal. Marco Pellegrino is also set to miss out, while Edinson Cavani continues to be troubled by muscle issues.
Predicted line-ups for Bayern Munich v Boca Juniors
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Laimer, Tah, Upamecano, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Coman; Kane
Boca Juniors: Marchesin; Advincula, Rojo, Costa, Blanco; Belmonte, Battaglia; Zenon, Velasco, Palacios; Zeballos
How to watch Bayern Munich v Boca Juniors: TV and online stream
Bayern Munich v Boca Juniors will kick-off at 2am on Saturday morning in the UK. The game will be free to stream online through DAZN.
