Benfica X-ray World Club opponents

This Thursday, December 5, Benfica got to know its opponents in the first edition of the Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States between June 15 and July 13, 2025.

In the draw held in Miami, the Eagles, who were in pot 2, were drawn in Group C alongside Bayern Munich (Germany), Boca Juniors (Argentina) and Auckland City (New Zealand).

The historic Argentine club Boca Juniors, currently in 6th place in the league, 10 points behind the leaders, will be meeting Benfica for the first time in official matches, as will Auckland City. Founded in 2004, the New Zealand side, coached by Albert Riera, finished the regular season in 2nd place in the league table and beat Birkenhead United 2-1 in the final on December 1st.

Bayern, meanwhile, are well-known rivals of the Eagles. The Bavarians, who failed to defend their title last season, losing to Bayer Leverkusen, have faced Benfica on 13 occasions, most recently in November this year in the Champions League league stage.

Bayern, who were knocked out of the German Cup by Bayer Leverkusen, are sole leaders of the Bundesliga.

THE OPPONENTS

Bayern Munich
Squad
Goalkeepers	Neuer, Peretz and Ulreich
Defenders	Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, Hiroki Ito, Eric Dier, Buchmann, Alphonso Davies, Raphaël Guerreiro, Stanisic and Boey
Midfielders	Kimmich, João Palhinha, Pavlovic, Laimer, Goretzka, Arijon Ibrahimovic and Musiala
Wingers/forwards	Gnabry, Coman, Tel, Olise, Sané, Thomas Müller and Harry Kane
The most valuable*
Musiala (130 M€), Harry Kane (100 M€), Olise (65 M€), Sané (60 M€), Kimmich (50 M€), João Palhinha (50 M€), Alphonso Davies (50 M€) and Pavlovic (50 M€)
Coach	Vincent Kompany
Last official starting XI (4x2x3x1)	Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim Min-jae e Alphonso Davies; Goretzka e Kimmich; Sané, Olise and Coman; Musiala
Current Bundesliga standings	1st place

* Source: transfermarkt.pt

Boca Juniors
Squad
Goalkeepers	Brey, Romero, Javier García and Sebastián Díaz Robles
Defenders	Anselmino, Valentini, Figal, Lema, Rojo, Di Lollo, Medel, Mateo Mendia, Walter Molas, Lautaro Blanco, Saracchi, Fabra, Barinaga, Blondel, Dylan Gorosito and Advíncula
Midfielders	Tomás Belmonte, Miramón, Benítez, Milton Delgado, Medina, Saralegui, Guillermo Fernández, Juan Ramírez, Santiago Dalmasso, Julián Ceballos, Juan Cruz Payal, Joaquín Ruiz, Martegani and Zenón
Wingers/forwards	Brian Aguirre, Lucas Janson, Zeballos, Iker Zufiaurre, Merentiel, Milton Giménez, Ignacio Rodríguez, Valentino Simoni and Cavani
The most valuable*
Medina (13 M€), Zenón (10 M€), Anselmino (8 M€), Merentiel (7 M€) and Brian Aguirre (7 M€)
Coach	Fernando Gago
Last official starting XI (4x4x2)	Brey; Barinaga, Figal, Rojo e Sarachi; Zenón, Belmonte, Guillermo Fernández e Zeballos; Cavani e Milton Giménez
Current standings in the Argentine league	6th place

* Source: transfermarkt.pt

Auckland City
Squad
Goalkeepers	Conor Tracey, Nathan Garrow and Areya Prasad
Defenders	Michael den Heijer, Adam Mitchell, Christian Gray, Timothy Boulet, Nathan Lobo, Adam Bell, Alfie Rogers, Regont Murati, Jordan Vale, Marco Lorenz and Yuki Aizu
Midfielders	Mario Ilich, Gerard Garriga, Dylan Manickum, Rayan Tayeb and Nabil Begg
Wingers/forwards	Joseph Lee, Tong Zhou, Jerson Lagos, Derek Tieku, Angus Kilkolly, Kailan Gould, Ryan De Vries, Stipe Ukich and Myer Bevan
The most valuable*
Derek Tieku (0,375 M€), Angus Kilkolly (0,325 M€), Conor Tracey (0,325 M€), Nathan Lobo (0,325 M€), Mario Ilich (0,3 M€) and Joseph Lee (0,3 M€)
Coach	Albert Riera
Last official starting XI (4x3x3)	Conor Tracey; Yuki Aizu, Michael den Heijer, Adam Mitchell e Nathan Lobo; Mario Ilich, Gerard Garriga and Kailan Gould; Jerson Lagos, Myer Bevan e Stipe Ukich
Current standings in the New Zealand Championship	2nd place in the regular phase Winner of the final