Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
On June 15, 2025, the first round of the FIFA Club World Cup Group C will feature a clash between Bayern Munich and New Zealand’s Auckland City. The match kicks off at 18:00 Central European Time. Let’s take a look at the best bets on team scoring in this encounter.
Bayern
Bayern are among the main favorites for the Club World Cup crown. The Munich giants have already lifted the trophy twice—in 2013 and 2020—but both triumphs came under the old format. Now, with the competition switching to a new structure, Bayern, as champions of Germany, are determined to assert their dominance on the global stage.
The team arrives at the tournament as Bundesliga winners, having clinched the title ahead of schedule with a commanding lead over their closest rivals, Bayer Leverkusen. Over 34 rounds, Bayern netted an impressive 99 goals. Leading the attacking charge was Harry Kane, who topped the scoring charts with 26 goals and 9 assists. The Munich side also reached the Champions League quarterfinals this season, where they bowed out to eventual finalists Inter Milan.
Following the club season, the squad took a short break as most players joined their national teams for June qualifiers. Now, Bayern are back at full strength and ready to fight for yet another prestigious international trophy.
Auckland City
Auckland City are the dominant force in the Australia and Oceania region, representing New Zealand. The team consistently proves its class at the regional level: last season, they confidently won the OFC Champions League and also claimed the New Zealand National League title.
When it comes to international tournaments, Auckland City have their fair share of experience. In 2024, they competed in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, suffering a heavy 2-6 defeat to Al Ain of the UAE in the round of 16. The year before, at the 2023 Club World Cup, the New Zealanders also exited in the round of 16 after a 0-3 loss to Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia.
However, with the new Club World Cup format, the team will have far more playing time and chances to show their mettle: they now face a group stage, with giants like Bayern, Boca Juniors, and Benfica as their opponents. Despite the obvious gulf in class, this is a priceless opportunity for the New Zealanders to test themselves at the very highest level.
Probable line-ups
- Bayern: Neuer, Pavlovic, Stanisic, Tah, Laimer, Kimmich, Guerreiro, Coman, Olise, Gnabry, Müller.
- Auckland City: Tracey, Garriga, Lagos, Lobo, Zeeb, Bevan, Boxall, Den Heyer, Menikum, Mitchell, David Yu.
Interesting facts and head-to-head
- Bayern have won 4 of their last 5 matches.
- Bayern have scored first in 5 of their last 6 matches.
- Auckland City have won 3 of their last 4 matches.
- Bayern have twice won the Club World Cup in their history.
- This will be the first ever meeting between these two sides.
Prediction for Bayern vs Auckland City
Bayern are clear favorites in this match-up. Auckland City, despite their international pedigree, are obvious underdogs. Given the disparity in squad strength and quality, Munich should win convincingly—and a big scoreline is certainly on the cards. My bet for this match: total over 4.5 goals at odds of 1.62.
