FIFA Club World Cup Final Preview: Bayern Munich -v- Tigres

BAYERN MUNICH

The Bavarians are one trophy away from completing a clean sweep of silverware in 2020, a feat only accomplished once in European club football (kick-off is at 6pm this evening).

The FIFA Club World Cup is the last remaining piece to their plan for world domination, an achievement previously done by Barcelona in 2009.

Their campaign began on Monday evening with a 2-0 victory over AFC Champions League winners Al Ahly.

The Best FIFA Men’s Player of 2020, Robert Lewandowski, scored a brace to send the Bavarians through to their second Club World Cup final.

Munich’s last success in the competition came in 2013, when they defeated Raja Casablanca 2-0 in Marrakesh in Morocco.

This was their third ‘world club’ title win, following their previous successes in the Intercontinental Cup in 1976 and 2001.

Bayern will be without a number of first team regulars for this evenings final. Midfield duo Leon Goretzka and Javi Martinez stayed back in Germany after testing positive for COVID-19.

Thomas Müller tested positive for the virus this morning, meaning he will miss the final.

TIGRES

Tigres became the first Mexican team to qualify for the final of the FIFA Club World Cup when they defeated Copa Libertadores winners Palmeiras 1-0 last Sunday.

The CONCACAF Champions League winners dominated the Interamericana semi-final, which was decided by a penalty from French striker André-Pierre Gignac in the 54^th minute.

The striker, who was top goal scorer in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League, blasted his shot low into the right hand side of the goal.

The result ends sixteen years of heart break for Mexican clubs in the competition, as they have repeatedly exited in the quarters and semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.

The result was an important marker for the club following their exploits in the Copa Libertadores. From 1998 to 2016, Mexican clubs were invited into the South American competition, and in 2015 Tigres reached the final.

Their opponents were a resurgent River Plate team who were riding the crest of a wave following the promotion to the Argentine top-flight in 2012. The Mexicans drew the first leg 0-0 and lost 3-0 away from home in Buenos Aires.

MATCH STATS

Munich tried to win all six trophies available to them in 2013, but missed out on the DFL Super-Cup to Borussia Dortmund.

Real Madrid was the last team to try and win the clean sweep, but they failed to win the Copa del Rey in 2017.

Should Munich win the trophy, defender Lucas Hernandez will have completed his club football medal collection.

The left back won the Europa League with Atlético Madrid in 2018 and added a league, cup, and European Cup to his collection last year.

BETTING

Bayern Munich 1/6; Draw 5/1; Tigres 11/1.

Bayern Munich

Injured: Leon Goretzka, Javi Martinez, and Thomas Muller.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Tigres

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: None.