Club World Cup

2025-06-15 - Bayern Munich vs Auckland City

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Bayern Munich v Auckland City
Football: FIFA Club World Cup Group C
Sunday 15th June 2025 - Kick Off 12pm (5pm British Time)
This game is live on TV

Bayern Munich

A club like Bayern Munich are all about winning trophies so it was clear that changes had to be made at the end of the 2023/24 campaign which ended without silverware. They were perhaps not able to bring in the manager they would have wanted, but Vincent Kompany was eventually appointed and probably earns a 'B+' grade for getting Bayern Munich back on track domestically, although the Champions League performance was a little disappointing.

Motivation for this new Club World Cup is hard to gauge, but you do have to believe Bayern Munich arrive in the United States looking to make a big impact. A strong squad has been selected and Bayern Munich have won this tournament twice before in 2013 and 2020, although the new expanded format means there are a lot more challengers to face than previously, especially for the big European representatives.

Bayern Munich ended the season in strong form with a lot of goals being scored and the wins piling up. They are unbeaten in 7 games in all competitions and Bayern Munich have scored at least twice in all of those games, while winning 4 of their last 5.

The starting eleven should feature some big names, although this fixture may represent an opportunity to allow some of the international players to have a bit of rest.

Auckland City

There are two clubs based in Auckland, New Zealand, but FC play in the Australian top flight and it is Auckland City who have dominated the OFC Confederation at club level. That gives them an opportunity to play at the Club World Cup as the sole representative of the Confederation, although matching the achievements of the 2014 squad would mean Auckland City have shocked the world.

Eleven years ago they became the only team from the OFC Confederation to reach the Semi Final and eventually finished third, while the Semi Final defeat was in Extra Time and meant Auckland City missed out on a Final against Real Madrid. Recent appearances have been fleeting with three early defeats in 2022, 2023 and 2024, but Auckland City will play at least three Group matches here.

Auckland City have been competing in the National League North, a winter tournament played in New Zealand, and they have won 4 in a row before heading to the United States for the Club World Cup. However, that is an amateur tournament and should underline the gulf between Auckland City and the three teams they are set to face in this Group C.

No matter what happens, this is a huge opportunity for the Auckland City players who are going to be enjoying each occasion.

Head to Head

This is the first competitive meeting between these two clubs.

Prediction

Some of the national team managers have stated that their interest in this Club World Cup is in seeing how players handle the North American conditions ahead of the World Cup Finals next summer.

Club managers involved and players have spoken about their desire to play well here, but the new format has not exactly inspired fans.

Perhaps that will change once the tournament gets underway and this Group C fixture is the second at the event.

There could not be a bigger gap between mighty Bayern Munich and OFC representatives Auckland City, an amateur team.

The reality is that this should be a fixture about 'how many' Bayern Munich win by and a strong squad has been selected by Vincent Kompany. Goal difference could make a difference within the Group so the manager will choose a team that should make comfortable work of the fixture and, even with changes, Bayern Munich should be too strong.

In recent Club World Cup editions, Auckland City have been well beaten in the preliminary Round by teams not of the standard of Bayern Munich.

This is a huge occasion for the Auckland City players, but they should be worn down by the quality and Bayern Munich should be able to cover the handicap mark set.

Conditions could be the biggest obstacle to overcome with thundery showers and humidity a factor, but Bayern Munich's qualities should see them come through without too much stress.