FC Bayern Munich is on a mission to be crowned the best club team in global football – but to do this, they first have to pass the current European champions.
After beating CR Flamengo 4-2 in an exciting round-of-16-ups at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the winners of the Bundesliga title on 5 July set up a blockbuster FIFA Club World Cup 2025 ™ quarter finale with UEFA Champions League Victorsa.
Bayern's stars are under no illusions about how difficult the game will be, not least after PSG be passed by Inter Miami Cf. But the German giants will enter the game with confidence after they have defeated their French rivals 1-0 in the competition phase of the Champions League last November.
“We have to believe (we can certainly win the club World Cup). We will undoubtedly go against a tough opponent in the next round, winners of the Champions League,” Bayern striker told Harry Kane to Fifa. “We have to be ready for that, but we feel that we can beat everyone on our day. It would be a dream that comes out to go all the way and win it, but there are games for that.”
Kane's feelings were reflected by his teammates Manuel Neuer and Leon Goretzka.
“They are the Champions League winner. We confronted them once this season, it was at home,” Neuer told FIFA. “Atlanta is a big stadium, a nice stadium. We are looking forward to that game. We will do our best. They have good players in every position, but we are prepared because we know them this season and of course the Champions League final.”
Goretzka added: “They are the current Champions League holders. I am sure it will be a brightly disputed game. We have already beat them up this season, so we can make this match very confidently. But PSG has a momentum of their Champions League triumph and they have won their round of 16 trust.”
Both Kane and Goretzka were on the score sheet in Bayern's roller coaster victory on Flamengo, where the latter scored one of the goals of the tournament so far with a long-distance rocket to make the score 3-1.
“I was surprised to have so much space when I scored the goal,” Goretzka told FIFA. “I was able to control the ball and tried to put some power in the shot. It worked well, but I think the keeper couldn't see it so well. It was a nice feeling.”
Goretzka greeted Bayern's calmness under pressure when Flamengo recovered twice to bring himself into the fight to get a result.
“I think we started the game well. It turned out to be the type of match that we had expected,” Goretzka added. “It was very intense and there were many 1V1 situations. We were able to win a few balls high on the field and scored from it.
“They created the first goal very well, but the second goal was unnecessary of us. We remained calm. It was a heated atmosphere in the stadium, but we kept possession and in general we delivered a good performance.”
You can be sure that quiet heads are also necessary when Bayern takes on PSG in Atlanta.