'We will be ready' - Bayern confident ahead of Club World Cup opener

Bayern Munich will not underestimate big outsiders Auckland City in their Club World Cup opener on Sunday, but have the clear aim of starting well into the tournament.

"We will be ready," captain Manuel Neuer said, and veteran Thomas Müller added that "the spirit has been set."

"We are entering the tournament to win matches. It starts with the first game. We are here to win the whole thing. And that starts with the first match," Müller said.

Good start important

Bayern play the New Zealand part-timers in Cincinnati before facing tougher tasks in their other group games against Portugal's Benfica and Boca Juniors of Argentina.

"Auckland are probably the weakest opponent. We we still first have to play and beat them," board member for sport Max Eberl said.

Neuer said: "It is extremely important at a tournament to have success in the first group game."

Bayern not only want to take the title on July 13 in New Jersey to earn another trophy but also because success would see the club earn more than $100 million in prize money.

Musiala and Upamecano back

Playmaker Jamal Musiala and defender Dayot Upamecano are fit again after injuries but Eberl said they won't be able to play all the time from the outset.

"These are lads who will now have to be integrated slowly. They won't play 90 minutes straight away - every three days. They won't be able to do that," he said.

In addition, striker Harry Kane, Konrad Laimer und Leroy Sané, who has finalised a transfer to Galatasaray, were only expected to join the squad on Friday night at their Florida base camp.

Line-up speculation

Coach Vincent Kompany will probably field a team of players who arrived on Tuesday, which also include two new signings: defender Jonathan Tah and midfield talent Tom Bischof.

"Vinnie has been thinking about it intensely. You won't start with all national team players against Auckland," Eberl said, naming the tournament in its new look "an adventure.

"It is a huge tournament and very exciting for us," Eberl said.

Huge task for Auckland

For Auckland, it will be all about damage limitation in their biggest event to date, according to New Zealand's former Bundesliga player Wynton Rufer.

"We have many champions in al sports - only in football we don't," Rufer said. "I would be happy if we only lose 3-0."