Sunday marked the first full day of competition in the revamped Club World Cup, featuring several prominent European teams and a number of compelling matchups.
The day`s events commenced with a highly unequal group stage fixture: six-time UEFA Champions League winners Bayern Munich faced off against Auckland City FC from New Zealand, the only semi-professional side in the tournament. The subsequent match was arguably Sunday`s headline event, pitting recent Champions League victors Paris Saint-Germain against Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl.
Later on Sunday, FC Porto were scheduled to play Palmeiras. Palmeiras represented the first South American club to participate in the tournament, a competition held in high regard on that continent. The day`s final game featured MLS side Seattle Sounders, winners of the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup, taking on Brazil`s Botafogo in a crucial Group B encounter. This group is highly competitive, also including PSG and Atletico.
PSG Demonstrates European Dominance
Despite the absence of Ousmane Dembele, PSG showed no signs of weakness against Atletico Madrid, establishing a 2-0 lead by halftime. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 19th minute, followed by three different players contributing to a convincing 4-0 victory. It proved a dismal outing for Atletico Madrid, highlighted by Clement Lenglet`s red card and a late penalty conceded in stoppage time, a factor potentially significant for goal difference calculations.
PSG exerted complete control, boasting 74% possession and directing 11 of their 16 attempts on goal. In contrast, Atletico Madrid managed only a single shot on target throughout the game. Their only moment of promise, a goal by Julian Alvarez, was disallowed for a foul preceding it. This comprehensive win positions PSG favorably to top their group, while Atletico Madrid now face a critical must-win fixture against the Seattle Sounders on Thursday.
Bayern Munich Secures Record-Breaking Win Against Semi-Pro Opponent
In their opening match, Bayern Munich delivered a dominant performance against Auckland City FC, defeating the semi-professional team 10-0. Four Bayern players netted multiple goals, including a hat-trick from Jamal Musiala. Both the ten-goal difference and the total number of goals scored represent new records for the competition. The Bavarian side completely overwhelmed their opponents, registering 31 shots to Auckland`s one, 17 shots on target to one, maintaining 72 percent possession, and completing over 450 more passes.
It`s worth noting that Auckland City FC`s squad consists of players who typically work standard full-time jobs and needed to take leave to participate in the tournament.
While a close contest was never anticipated, Bayern showed no mercy, establishing a strong statement in a group shared with Benfica and Boca Juniors.
Club World Cup Sunday Results and Schedule
- Bayern Munich 10, Auckland City 0
- Paris Saint-Germain 4, Atletico Madrid 0
- Palmeiras vs. Porto
- Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders
Monday`s Fixtures
- Chelsea vs. LAFC
- Boca Juniors vs. Benfica
- Flamengo vs. Esperance de Tunis
