Bayern Munich Eliminates Flamengo From The FIFA 2025 Club World Cup

Bayern Munich has defeated Brazilian team Flamengo in the round of 16 at the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup by a 4-2 scoreline. Harry Kane delivered a stunning performance, scoring two goals for the Bavarian club.

A dream Start For Bayern

A dream start for Bayern Munich but a dreadful start for Flamengo. 2-0 to the German Champions after exactly nine minutes of play left the gap between the European and South American elite seeming like a giant one.

Thankfully, a few minutes later, Flamengo decided to mount its own charge and a wonderful stop from Manuel Neuer just kept the Brazilian side off the score sheet. After that the game became more balanced but Bayern, of course, looked the more deadly side in the final third.

Then, Gerson pulled one back for Flamengo just after the half-hour mark. A thunderous left-footed strike from inside the box flashed past Neuer before he could react. It also made it very clear that the vast majority of fans in the Hard Rock stadium in Miami were supporting Flamengo. The atmosphere lifted in a sea of bouncing red and black, but the celebrations would be cut short.

In the 41st minute Leon Goretzka made it 3-1 from outside the box, but the German midfielder was allowed far too much time. Goretzka could have sipped down a coffee with his foot on the ball before unleashing an unchallenged strike. Flamengo had fought well but that was too easy.

A player of such quality made no mistake, and in stark contrast a similar effort earlier in the half by Flamengo’s Léo Pereira was way off the mark and wouldn’t of scared Manuel Neuer one bit.

The Pereira strike came as all 11 Bayern players sat behind the ball. It was exactly what they wanted, a hit and hope from the opposition centre back. If Flamengo was to win this game they needed to play the percentages, not lose patience in the first half and send ‘Hail Mary’ shots.

Flamengo Fights Back

Flamengo started the second period in more composed fashion and was rewarded with a penalty kick. Michael Olise handled from a De Arrascaeta cross and Jorginho slotted home the resulting penalty with great conviction. The Flamengo fans rose once more. It was game 3-2 and game on.

Flamengo opened up Bayern again, straight after the goal, creating another two half-chances on the break. At 2-0 and 3-1 it was hard to see a way back but the Brazilian team was hanging in there, competing for every ball like it was the World Cup final, and even creating key openings.

Bayern Pulls Away

Then Bayern pegged the Brazilians back once more. Luiz Araújo tried to dance out of his own half with just under 20 minutes remaining in the game, but it was a touch too many and Bayern were in. He certainly wasn’t playing the percentages as he decided to take on various German midfielders in his own half.

Harry Kane received the ball on the edge of the box and the rest was history. On the half turn the forward didn’t even need to look up, picking out the bottom corner like the world class striker that he is.

The fourth goal proved to be a killer for the South American side. A sucker punch helped dampen the Brazilian belief and Bayern looked more likely to score a fifth goal than anything. A valiant display from Flamengo after a fine group stage. In truth Flamengo was unlucky to meet an elite side like Bayern at this point, especially after beating Chelsea to top of the group, but that proved the luck of the draw.

Bayern, who certainly seems like a side keen to win this tournament, will now face-off against the equally eager PSG in the quarter finals. Flamengo can travel back to Brazil with heads held high.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/josephosullivan/2025/06/29/bayern-munich-eliminates-flamengo-from-the-fifa-2025-club-world-cup/