Benfica won an important game on Tuesday, beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the Club World Cup — a win that changed the club’s history. Schjelderup scored early, and the strong defence helped the Portuguese team finish first in Group C, ahead of Bayern, who had never lost to Benfica in 13 past matches.
Bayern had the ball a lot and controlled the field, but they couldn’t score. Kompany’s changed team struggled in the hot weather.
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Schjelderup Breaks the Ice, Trubin Holds the Fort
Yes, you heard that right—Benfica scored with their very first big chance of the match. Andreas Schjelderup fired home in the 13th minute from a pinpoint Fredrik Aursnes cross.
It was the kind of finish that slices through defences like a hot knife through butter. The goal exposed Bayern’s makeshift backline, and from that moment, the momentum tilted.
According to reports, Bayern improved in the second half, even finding the net through Joshua Kimmich — only for VAR to deny the equaliser due to an offside by Harry Kane. Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin was the fortress Bayern couldn’t breach, making four critical saves, including efforts from Pavlović and Sané.
Andreas Schjelderup looked genuinely shocked that he’d scored against Bayern 😅👏
A reminder Benfica will finish top of the group if they see out the win 👀🔝 pic.twitter.com/spHabGlnDi
— LiveScore (@livescore) June 24, 2025
[TRENDING] Stat Sheet Tells a Tale of Grit v Glamour
Here’s where the narrative gets gritty. Bayern owned the ball with 72.9% possession, racked up 686 passes to Benfica’s 260, and fired 13 shots. But Benfica? They had purpose.
With just 27.1% possession, they registered 7 shots, scored one, and cleared the ball 28 times—16 of them headers. It was like watching a lion defend its den.
Key Match Stats: Benfica vs Bayern
| Metric | Benfica | Bayern Munich |
| Possession | 27.10% | 72.90% |
| Shots (on target) | 7 (4) | 13 (4) |
| Clearances | 28 | 10 |
| Duels Won | 45 | 32 |
| Offsides Committed | 1 | 6 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 4 | 3 |
| Yellow Cards | 3 | 0 |
As the numbers show, Benfica didn’t just survive — they executed a defensive masterclass. Bayern looked like a machine that ran out of oil in the final third.
[WHAT’S HAPPENING] What This Means Going Forward
Benfica, who are now at the top of their group, will play against Chelsea or Esperance de Tunis in the next round. Now, Bayern needs to come together again before playing against Group D winners Flamengo — a match that could shape Kompany’s start.
Trubin said after the game: “It was not just me, it was the whole team.” The team’s smart play, quick clearances, and strong determination made the difference. Bruno Lage, looking pleased, told critics that his team should get more respect: “No one thought we would win against Bayern.”
Amit Mishra’s Final Word
As a writer and die-hard football journalist and enthusiast:
- Positives: Benfica played really well by sticking to their plan. It showed that having the ball doesn’t mean you are in charge, and passion can beat the rules. Trubin was very strong, like a tough wall, and Schjelderup stayed calm even when things got hard.
- Negatives: Bayern’s rotation gamble backfired. Kompany’s men looked disconnected, lacked urgency, and were exposed when it mattered most. The heat certainly didn’t help, but elite sides must adapt.
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