Club World Cup: Bayern beat Flamengo and will meet PSG in the quarter-finals

The Bavarians got the job done. Simply stronger, Harry Kane's Bayern Munich, who scored twice, showed off their power on Sunday in Miami to push Flamengo 4-2 out of the Club World Cup, where a shock quarter-final against PSG now awaits.

It will therefore be a duel between European heavyweights, more accustomed to challenging each other in the Champions League, which will take place next Saturday in Atlanta, the Parisians having unceremoniously got rid of Lionel Messi's Inter Miami (4-0).

Brazil, which has placed all four of its teams in the last 16, could still see a second team, after Palmeiras , reach the next round if Fluminense defeats Inter Milan on Monday in Charlotte. Meanwhile, after Botafogo, it is one of its most iconic clubs, the one of Zico, Bebeto, Romario and Adriano, which is leaving.

Today's Flamengo doesn't have such football geniuses in its ranks, and its football, based on high pressing and direct play, gives it a rather European feel. So, against Bayern, it was up against a competitor in this field.

This match, with its vintage intercontinental flavor, was very lively and sometimes very tense (9 warnings) as we imagined before kick-off. The Bavarians took it seriously, as a clear favorite for the title should, attacking strongly from the start in the almost full Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (60,915 spectators).

In three minutes of the first ten minutes, Bayern broke the opposing defense. First with a corner deflected into his own pocket by Chilean Erick Pulgar (6th), then after a shot from the edge of the box by Harry Kane, slightly deflected and entering the goal with the help of the post (9th).

On the move, French defender Dayot Upamecano stole the ball from a Brazilian before providing an assist to the English striker, demonstrating that this Bayern is one of the teams that presses closest to their opponent's goal, to better be dangerous, if not lethal.

By taking Flamengo by the throat from the outset, Munich had just dealt a major blow to their opponent's arse. But that was without taking into account " the mental strength of the Brazilian players ," highlighted the day before by their coach Filipe Luis, warning that it could "compensate for a slight difference in skill."

The proof was given by Gerson's superb reduction of the score, author of a missile on the half-volley which lodged under the bar of Manuel Neuer (33rd), after a cross from Luiz Araujo. It was the latter, passed by Lille, fighting like a devil on his left wing, who was the initiator of the revolt of Flamengo and it had taken an exceptional save from the German goalkeeper for the Brazilian team not to score earlier (15th).

Pushed around and with their safe breached, Bayern nevertheless regained their composure and control of the ball. Then, on an imprecise clearance from the same Araujo, who was clearly involved in all his team's good and bad plays, Leon Goretzka had plenty of time to adjust his shot to allow his team to regain the lead (3-1, 41st).

In the second half, Flamengo momentarily regained hope when Jorginho converted a penalty following a handball from Michael Olise (55th). But after Bruno Henrique, overlooked by Upamecano on a long ball, missed a great opportunity to equalize by beating Neuer without finding the target (66th), it was the inevitable Kane who sealed the fate of the match (73rd).

The only downside for Bavaria was the injury-related departure of Kingsley Coman, who was replaced in the 58th minute by Leroy Sané. The French international held the top of his left thigh following a duel with Brazilian Wesley França.