Group C of the Club World Cup reaches a critical point on Tuesday with a match between Benfica and Bayern Munich, which will decide if the Portuguese club qualifies for the round of 16. German champions Bayern have already secured their progression after two wins, but they will aim for first place to potentially get a better draw in the knockout stage under Vincent Kompany.
Benfica is currently second in Group C with four points, ahead of Argentina`s Boca Juniors who have one. However, Boca faces semi-professional side Auckland City and is highly likely to win, putting pressure on Benfica to secure at least a draw against Bayern to advance.
Should Benfica fail to get a point against Bayern, tiebreakers could become relevant. Their earlier 2-2 draw with Boca Juniors didn`t significantly improve either team`s chances. If Boca wins and Benfica loses, progression will likely depend on goal difference. Boca would need a seven-goal advantage swing, a scenario perhaps surprisingly achievable given Auckland City has conceded 16 goals in just two matches.
Group C Qualification Scenarios
- Bayern Munich: Already qualified for the round of 16.
- Benfica qualifies for the round of 16 with:
- A win or a draw against Bayern Munich.
- A loss to Bayern Munich AND Boca Juniors draw or lose against Auckland City.
- Boca Juniors qualifies for the round of 16 with:
- A win against Auckland City AND Benfica loses to Bayern Munich AND Boca Juniors overtakes Benfica on goal difference.
- Auckland City: Eliminated from the competition.
Predicted Lineups
Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin, Samuel Dahl, Antonio Silva, Nicolas Otamendi, Alvaro Carreras, Fredrik Aursnes, Florentino Luis, Renato Sanches, Angel Di Maria, Vangelis Pavlidis, Bruma
Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer, Konrad Laimer, Josip Stanisic, Jonathan Tah, Raphael Guerreiro, Michael Olise, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Kingsley Coman, Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry
Player to Watch
Alvaro Carreras, Benfica. The Club World Cup often serves as a stage for young talents, either already set for big moves or hoping to attract attention. Benfica`s left back, Alvaro Carreras, fits this description. The 22-year-old has been linked with a return to Real Madrid, years after leaving their academy. He faces a significant test against Bayern, likely encountering threats like Harry Kane and Michael Olise. His defensive performance will be crucial, especially as avoiding defeat is Benfica`s most direct path to advancing.
Storyline to Watch
Which version of Bayern will appear? Bayern are the favorites, but having already secured qualification, Vincent Kompany might choose to rest players on a warm afternoon in Charlotte. However, avoiding dropping to second place and potentially facing a strong opponent like Flamengo in the next round is also a strong incentive. Bayern`s strategy for Tuesday`s game will be a major factor in how Group C concludes, particularly with Boca Juniors likely aiming for a high-scoring win against Auckland City.
Prediction
This match is difficult to call, especially as a favorite team already qualified might not play with full intensity. This could open the door for Benfica to secure the point they need. However, Bayern possess players like Harry Kane who can easily influence the scoreline. The expectation is that Bayern will win, creating a tense finish for Benfica depending on the outcome of Boca Juniors` match.
Pick: Benfica 1, Bayern Munich 2
Benedict Kingsley 
Adrian Whitmore