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After a trouble-free start to the Club World Cup, the Munich trophy hunters around double packer Robert Lewandowski are about to complete their historic six-title collection.
After the exhausting journey to Qatar, coach Hansi Flick's star ensemble presented itself fresh enough on Monday evening in a 2-0 (1-0) win against Al Ahly Cairo to make it into the final against Africa's champion without a shine, but completely safe.
The match winner was once again world footballer Lewandowski.
The 32-year-old Pole led the dominating Champions League winner with his goals in the 17th and 85th minutes in the final on Thursday (7:00 p.m.) against outsider Tigres UANL from Mexico.
On the 26th birthday of national player Joshua Kimmich in the Ahmad-bin-Ali-Stadium, the external framework was also right: When the whistle kicked off in the late evening local time, it was still pleasantly warm.
The lawn in the World Cup arena for 2022 was in top condition, which benefited Bayern, who dominated the game.
And the 12,000 permitted viewers provided a change from the ghost games in Europe in times of pandemic.
The much-missed football atmosphere also stimulated the Munich team, although most of the fans cheered Al Ahly loudly.
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Africa's champion was mostly occupied with defending.
The Bavarians attacked non-stop.
Kingsley Coman was an appealing driver.
Flick's white ballet had control in midfield with Kimmich and next man Marc Roca and hardly allowed any counterattacks.
Captain Manuel Neuer spent a peaceful evening in the gate.
On presentation by Serge Gnabry, Lewandowski hit the inside early from around eight meters.
So far, only one team has achieved the title six pack
But the Munich team missed the opportunity to add, despite several scoring chances until the final phase, when goal scorer Lewandowski headed a precise cross from substitute Leroy Sané from close range.
Flick could afford the luxury of switching in the second half and thus saving energy reserves for the final.
Against the Tigres from Mexico, Bayern can now round off the successful year 2020 by winning the Club World Cup;
after championship title, cup victory, Champions League triumph and winning the national and European Supercup.
“You can put together the entire package,” said attacker Thomas Müller.
So far, only FC Barcelona with coach Pep Guardiola has been able to celebrate this six-pack title.
Final opponent Tigres prevailed 1-0 against South America's champion Palmeiras Sao Paulo in the first semi-final.
The Club World Cup, which Bayern won for the first time in 2013, is not the highest quality football competition in terms of sport.
But the historic six-title prospect makes Bayern really “hot”, as Kimmich, who is known for his ambition, said in Doha.
The Munich team never left any doubts about their determination against Al Ahly, even if the 2-0 win did not express their superiority in numbers.
For the first time since winning the UEFA Supercup against Sevilla FC in Budapest at the end of September, the Munich team played again in front of an audience that had to wear a mask and had been tested.