Benfica Upsets Bayern Munich to Top Group C in Club World Cup Thriller

SL Benfica stunned Bayern Munich with a 1–0 victory in their final Group C clash at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Portuguese side secured top spot in the group, while Bayern—already qualified—settled for second place.

The decisive moment came in the 13th minute when Andreas Schjelderup calmly slotted home a first-time finish after a clever assist from Gianluca Prestianni. Despite Bayern dominating possession with 70%, they struggled to break down Benfica’s disciplined defense.

Bayern manager Vincent Kompany made aggressive second-half substitutions, introducing Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Joshua Kimmich to spark a comeback. The German side created several chances, including a disallowed goal by Kimmich due to Kane being offside. However, Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin delivered a standout performance, making crucial saves to preserve the lead and earning the Player of the Match honor.

With this result, Benfica advances to face the Group D runner-up, while Bayern will meet Flamengo in the Round of 16. Quite the twist in the tale—especially for a Bayern side that had looked dominant in earlier matches.