Bayern Munich got the job done against Flamengo and booked their spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals, but left a lot to be desired.
After an intense 90 minutes, Bayern defeated Flamengo 4-2 in the round of 16 and advanced to the quarter finals. However, despite scoring four times in what looks like a comfortable scoreline, the game showed very much the opposite.
The Germans were up 2-0 within the first 10 minutes, which led many to think that the remaining 80 would be a walk in the park. And, to be honest, it should have been, considering the enormous difference in depth and quality between both squads.
Luckily for Vincent Kompany, two specific parts of the game helped them avoid a more “fair” result considering the flow of the match.
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High pressure
One of Kompany’s main tactical demands as a manager is that he wants his team to press high up the pitch. This non-negotiable part of his style of play may well been the difference against Flamengo.
Bayern ended the game forcing 10 high turnovers, slightly below their season average (10.9), but two of those turned into goals – their second-highest mark of 2024-25 across all competitions.
Flamengo looked shaken at the start and made several errors in dangerous areas trying to play out from the back. Still, the one that hurt the most was unforced, when Erick Pulgar headed into his own net in the 6th minute from a corner kick.
And to the Bavarians’ credit, they pounced on the opposition’s lack of confidence and quickly made it 2-0 when Upamecano tackled Arrascaeta and the ball fell to Harry Kane’s feet. The Englishman made it count with a beautiful left-footed finish from outside the box, hitting the inside of the post before going in.
With what was the quickest 2+ goal cushion of the Club World Cup so far, Bayern vs Flamengo was looking more like Brazil vs Germany in 2014 and it felt like there was more to come. However, the Brazilians picked themselves back up and ended the first half having created the better chances.
Efficiency
The other part is that Bayern made it count when it mattered, for which they do deserve credit. Despite recording their third-lowest shot total in a game this season across all competitions (8), they logged a conversion rate of 50%, by far their best in 2024-25.
Kane and Goretzka both scored from long range after Flamengo’s own goal, and the English striker added a second from just inside the box – a true expected goals nightmare: four goals from just 0.91 xG.
Still, it’s easier to be efficient when you don’t take many shots. It was unusual to see Bayern allowing Flamengo not only to take control, but to create chances and get into dangerous areas near their goal. Even in the first 10 minutes when the Germans scored twice, they still weren’t imposing their will, dominating the Brazilians and completely taking them out of the game – it felt more like Filipe Luís’ men shooting themselves on the foot over and over again.
Then, for five to ten stretches, Bayern would pass the ball around and not let Flamengo get anywhere near it. Almost like they were flicking a switch on and off and deciding when they were actually going to play to the level that they are most definitely capable of. Those rare stretches, mainly in the end of the first and second halves, reminded us of the true difference between both teams – which is a lot bigger than the Germans made it look like it was throughout most of the contest.
In the end, Bayern won but the whole story of the game seems to have revolved much less around their successes and a lot more around Flamengo’s mistakes. It was enough to get the job done against a lesser side and we can probably expect a different attitude when facing an opponent like PSG, but it certainly didn’t make their fans feel proud for what the players and manager showed on the pitch.