Boca Juniors and Benfica Collide in Historic Club World Cup Clash
What a night it’s been in Miami as Boca Juniors and Benfica locked horns for the very first time at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. We’re witnessing not just a key group-stage clash but also a slice of football history, with an Argentinian and Portuguese club facing off at this level for the first time ever. The electric atmosphere at Hard Rock Stadium was undeniable — if you closed your eyes, you'd think you were in La Bombonera itself. Boca fans showed up in full force, waving banners of legends like Maradona and making enough noise to drown out the Benfica supporters completely.
As the match kicked off, it quickly became clear how the game would flow. Benfica, with their smooth possession and European pedigree, looked to dictate the tempo. Meanwhile, Boca sat back, soaking up pressure and waiting for the perfect counter-punch. This is the classic Boca DNA: resilience, grit, and the hope of a sudden, devastating break.
Early chances came and went. Renato Sanches should have done better in the 6th minute after a solid setup by Carreras, but his shot went wayward. Boca responded through Alan Velasco, who tried his luck from 30 yards out after a lovely layoff by Lautaro Blanco. It was a bold effort — powerful, but sailing over the bar.
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Tension flared on the sidelines as Benfica’s boss Bruno Lage was visibly frustrated by Boca’s physicality. One particularly heavy challenge left Angel Di Maria on the deck, a stark reminder of the South American edge Boca brings to every match. Di Maria, by the way, is playing on what might be his final Club World Cup run before returning home to Rosario Central. It’s poetic, really, that he’s back at the very stadium where he lifted the Copa America with Argentina.
Benfica are no pushovers, of course. Their attacking line, led by Vangelis Pavlidis and flanked by the experienced Di Maria and Bruma, kept probing. The Portuguese side knew that a win would almost guarantee progression, especially with Bayern Munich already cruising in this group after a 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City.
On the Boca bench, manager Miguel Ángel Russo — back for his third stint — made it clear pre-match that Benfica were no ordinary opponent. He wasn’t wrong. Boca may be the lowest-ranked South American team in the tournament, but that hasn't shaken their identity. Every pass, every clearance, every cheer from the stands reflects that warrior spirit.
Football at its finest — and the 2025 Club World Cup is just getting started.
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