Bayern Munich began their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a thunderous statement on Sunday, dismantling Auckland City 10-0 in a historic Group C clash that set a new record for the largest margin of victory in the men’s tournament.
Jamal Musiala, making his return from injury, lit up the second half with a sublime hat trick, while Kingsley Coman led a devastating first-half onslaught with two goals and an assist. Bayern’s dominance was total and unrelenting, as Vincent Kompany’s side showcased its attacking depth and ruthlessness against the amateur OFC champions.
Coman opened the scoring in just the 6th minute, nodding home at the back post after Joshua Kimmich’s well-placed corner. That early strike triggered a relentless Bayern surge. In a three-minute blitz between the 18th and 21st minutes, Sacha Boey fired in his first Bayern goal with a low drive from Coman’s assist, Michael Olise tapped in a third moments later, and Coman curled in his second to make it 4-0.
Veteran forward Thomas Müller volleyed in Bayern’s fifth on the brink of halftime, connecting on an Olise pass with clinical precision. The Bundesliga giants went into the break with a commanding 5-0 lead and no signs of letting up.
With the match effectively decided, Kompany rotated his squad in the second half, notably handing a senior debut to 17-year-old Lennart Karl. But the biggest cheer of the night came when Musiala replaced Harry Kane just after the hour mark. The 22-year-old wasted little time making his mark.
Musiala curled a trademark left-footed finish into the far corner in the 67th minute, won and converted a penalty six minutes later, and capitalized on a defensive mix-up in the 84th to complete his hat trick. Müller added Bayern’s tenth with a tap-in in the 89th minute, completing the double for both himself and Coman on a record-setting night.
Bayern’s 10-0 victory is now the largest in the history of the men’s Club World Cup, surpassing previous routs and underscoring the gulf in class between Europe’s elite and Oceania’s finest.
Despite the crushing defeat, Auckland City manager Ivan Vicelich remained upbeat.
“A lot of our guys had to take time off work just to be here,” Vicelich said post-match. “To play against a team like Bayern is a dream and a challenge. The result hurts, but I’m incredibly proud of the spirit we showed just to reach this level.”
The 13-time OFC Champions League winners will now face Portuguese champions Benfica on Friday in a bid to restore pride. Bayern, meanwhile, will turn their focus to Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors in a much-anticipated clash that could decide the group winner.
If this performance is any indication, Bayern Munich may have arrived in Saudi Arabia not just to compete—but to conquer.
