Flying Bayern start Club World Cup with 10-0 romp over Auckland City
dpa
Cincinnati, Ohio
Jamal Musiala scored a hat-trick to help Bayern Munich charge to a 10-0 thumping of hapless Auckland City in their Club World Cup Group C opener on Sunday.
It is a record international success for the Bundesliga champions.
The revamped tournament began on Saturday with a 0-0 draw between Egypt's Al Ahly and Inter Miami, but Bayern made sure the goals flowed in the second match of the controversial event.
'We don't need praise, it is job done, we played very earnestly.
Maybe goal difference will be important for this group phase,' Bayern coach Vincent Kompany told DAZN.
'When a team stays back and defends, it is not easy to score 10.'
France winger Kingsley Coman went close with a header and from the resultant corner, he nodded in on six minutes after debutant Jonathan Tah had headed the ball back.
Tah was signed on an effective free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen but with his Leverkusen deal not up until June 30, Bayern had to pay their rivals a modest sum to free him up earlier.
The vagaries of club contracts and a first Club World Cup with 32 teams held in June and July means Thomas Müller had to receive a mini contract extension - given his Bayern deal was otherwise due to expire on June 30.
The veteran, set to join a US club in late July, started in Cincinnati but Leroy Sané was left on the bench ahead of his July 1 move to Galatasaray - even if Bayern are still in the competition.
Müller, Olise and Coman also star Coman's clever knock down allowed Sacha Boey to rifle in his first Bayern goal on 18 minutes.
It was soon 3-0 as the gulf in class between the sides was exposed as Michael Olise netted at the far post following Müller's cross.
Coman fired in his second soon after and Müller flicked in before Olise netted the goal of the game on the stroke of half-time.
Coman and Olise were both rested in the second half but there was still no appearance for Sané, with Musiala coming on to replace a goalless Harry Kane and show his return to fitness after injury.
Musiala netted his three in the second half, including a penalty he earned, before crowd favourite Müller scored the 10th.
'It's good that we started like this. It's what we planned,' Tah said.
'It was a lot of fun for me, especially the way we played.'
The heavy defeat was tough on Auckland goalkeeper Conor Tracey, who made several good saves amid the waves of Bayern attacks. However, he gave the ball straight to Musiala for the ninth goal.
The Bundesliga champions, who last won Europe's Champions League in 2020, showed they are very much up for the competition despite it taking place during the usual holiday period for European sides.
The New Zealanders won the Oceania Champions League the last four seasons but were blown away and next face Benfica on Friday hoping to keep the score down to single digits.
'We always knew it was going to be challenging,' Auckland's Ryan De Vries said. 'They are (German) champions for a reason. We should be happy with ourselves.'
The Bavarians, who as a club support the expanded tournament due to its financial benefits, have a tougher game against Boca Juniors in Miami in their second Group C clash the same day.
Bayern fans have criticized the Club World Cup but ultras still made the trip to Ohio, even if the atmosphere against the part-timers was subdued at times. Bayern fans also revealed a banner slamming FIFA's leadership.
'It's good that we started like this. it is what we planned,' Tah said. 'It was a lot of fun for me, especially the way we played.'
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