Bayern and Kompany wary of 'dangerous' Boca ahead of Club World Cup clash

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany said his team would not underestimate Club World Cup opponents Boca Juniors despite their fine start to the tournament. 

Bayern made Club World Cup history in their opening game, beating part-time Auckland City 10-0, led by substitute Jamal Musiala's second-half hat-trick in Cincinnati. 

Indeed, it was the biggest margin of victory in a match at the competition (including previous format) and Bayern's second-biggest win in all competitions this millennium. 

Their thrashing all but confirmed their place in the next round of the tournament, leading Group C by two points after Boca drew with Benfica in their opening game. 

Boca had led that game by two goals thanks to strikes from captain Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia, but were pegged back before the break by Angel Di Maria's penalty.

Nicolas Otamendi sealed a share of the spoils late on, with Boca seeing Nicolas Figal dismissed in the closing stages of the game. 

"We know the quality of the tournament ... every team taking part here is a winning team," Kompany told reporters ahead of Friday's game. 

"Boca are a very dangerous team in the transition game. They believe in their moments. The team spirit is good.

"We have respect for Boca. But we're looking at ourselves and want to bring our qualities to the game."

Bayern and Boca have met once before, with the German side beating them in the 2001 Intercontinental Cup thanks to Samuel Kuffour's extra-time effort in a 1-0 win.

But in their 2-2 draw with Benfica, Boca became the first South American team to score multiple goals against European opposition in a Club World Cup match (including the previous format) since they did so against AC Milan in the 2007 final.

They also scored both of their goals against Benfica in the first half, the first time they scored twice in the first half of a Club World Cup or Intercontinental Cup match since the 2000 final, when Martin Palermo's brace secured a 2-1 win over Real Madrid.

Kompany said they were familiar with the Argentine style of play with many of the country's players plying their trade in Europe.

But Bayern will also have to deal with the team's impressive travelling support, something Kompany acknowledged could be crucial in the context of the encounter. 

"We know a lot of Argentinian players from the European leagues. It's a football we understand very well," he added.

"It might feel a bit like an away game. But we want to be Bayern Munich. We have to show the right emotion."

Kompany expressed his delight at welcoming back both Dayot Upamecano and Musiala into the fold after their respective injury issues during the 2024-25 campaign. 

Indeed, Musiala's treble from the bench against Auckland came in just 17 minutes, and was the first Bayern substitute to score a hat-trick in all competitions since Robert Lewandowski (five goals) against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga in September 2015.

"Jamal Musiala and Dayot Upamecano haven't played for a long time. We're very happy that they're back and fit," Kompany added.

"Integration is an important issue and we have to look at it. Otherwise, everyone's 100% fit."