Relive Bayern Munich record 10-0 demolition of Auckland City and uncover other record-breaking routs in elite football tournaments.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is well and truly underway, and there have already been some shocking results. In the tournament opener, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami were unable to find a way past Egyptian champions Al Ahly on home turf, ultimately having to settle for a goalless draw. The following night, Brazilian giants Palmeiras and Portuguese outfit FC Porto also played out a 0-0 draw, but sandwiched in between those two clashes were a pair of almighty drubbings.
The first of those came courtesy of German champions Bayern Munich. The Bavarians opened their campaign against New Zealand-based amateurs Auckland City, and the game went exactly as expected. Despite the huge gulf in quality between the two sides, the reigning Mesterschale holders showed no mercy, running out 10-0 victors and picking up the biggest win in FIFA Club World Cup history.
Shortly after that, reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain picked up where they left off from their 5-0 drubbing of Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final. They thumped Atletico Madrid 4-0 in their opening game, prompting online sports betting sites to immediately slash odds on the French heavyweights picking up yet another trophy. Websites offering online sports betting on the Club World Cup now make PSG a short-priced 3/1 favorite to leave MetLife Stadium next month as World Champions.
But those two hidings, particularly Bayern's, got us thinking about other beatdowns on the global stage. Here are three results that immediately spring to mind.
Back at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, hosts Brazil looked bound for the final. They had made their way past fellow South Americans Chile and Colombia to reach the semifinals, but then, disaster struck. Injuries to talisman Neymar and captain Thiago Silva ripped up their plans, and to make matters worse, they had the efficient Germans lying in wait.
Despite the injuries, the Selecao were still narrowly favored to get the job done, but no one could have anticipated what was about to come. Germany took the lead after just 11 minutes when Thomas Müller fired home from close range, but it was the second goal from Miroslav Klose that the chaos really began.
The former Bayern Munich man netted in the 23rd minute to make it 2-0 and to make himself the leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history. Barely six minutes later, Germany were shockingly 5-0 up. Toni Kroos scored twice in as many minutes, while Sami Khedira hammered another home just shy of the half-hour mark to leave Belo Horizonte in disbelief.
The tens of thousands of Brazilians in the stadium were in tears, simply watching on, gobsmacked at what was unfolding. The game was dead and buried by half-time, but Andre Schürrle still added two more in the second period to make it 7-0, before Oscar's late consolation ensured the game ended 7-1.
In 2020, the world was a very different place. Global events ensured that the footballing calendar had to be postponed for the better part of four months. When it resumed, fans weren't allowed to attend matches, and precautions were taken to ensure the safety of all involved. As such, UEFA organized a mini-tournament in Lisbon to determine the UEFA Champions League winner, with the quarterfinals onwards all being played in the Portuguese capital.
After Lyon shockingly knocked out Manchester City and RB Leipzig edged out Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona took center stage. The contest was expected to be a tight one, with Lionel Messi still at the peak of his powers, captaining the Blaugrana and hoping to lead them to the title. But unfortunately for the Argentinian genius, the Bavarians had other ideas.
Bayern took the lead inside four minutes, with Thomas Müller on hand just as he was in Brazil six years prior. Three minutes later, Barca were level, but from that moment onwards, they were thoroughly outclassed. Three goals in nine minutes before half-time, courtesy of Müller's second, Ivan Perišić, and Serge Gnabry secured the Bavarians a 4-1 half-time lead.
Luis Suarez would pull one back after the break, but minutes later, Joshua Kimmich restored a three-goal lead. Then, in the dying embers, the Blaugrana capitulated. Robert Lewandowski netted Bayern's fifth, while a late brace from Philippe Coutinho - on loan in Munich from Barcelona, no less - made it 8-2. The result is considered the worst in Barcelona's illustrious history, and they have made it past the quarterfinal stage just once in the years since.
Three years prior to that drubbing and Barcelona were handing out a hiding of their own. Led by the fearsome MSN strike force of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar, the Blaugrana had claimed the title for the third time in six years in 2015, a run that began with Pep Guardiola’s all-time great team of 2009. However, two years on from that triumph, their dominance was fading.
In the first leg of their Round of 16 clash against Paris Saint-Germain, Barca were thumped 4-0 in the Parc Des Princes. In the reverse fixture, they knew they had an almighty task on their hands if they were to overturn the deficit and progress to the quarterfinals. But then, the miracle came.
Suarez netted after just three minutes to give his side hope, before a Layvin Kurzawa own goal made it 2-0 at half-time. Messi added a third just five minutes after the break, and it seemed as though the Remontada was on. But then, Edinson Cavani netted a crucial away goal for PSG, meaning that Barca needed to score three more goals if they were to progress. As the game ticked into the 88th minute, they still needed three goals, and somehow, they got them.
Neymar netted twice in three minutes, first with a stunning free kick and then from the penalty spot. Then, deep into injury time, the Brazilian turned provider, crossing the ball in for academy product Sergi Roberto to volley home and complete the comeback of all comebacks. The 6-1 drubbing was one of PSG's most embarrassing moments, but they have had their revenge in the years since.
