Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Sporting CP 3-1 at the Allianz Arena, stretching their unbeaten home run at this stage of the Champions League to 35 games.
Their defeat to Arsenal on Matchday 5 is still Bayern’s only loss of the season, and they looked determined to respond well. Harry Kane set the tone early, shooting over the bar after just three minutes as Bayern created several chances before half-time.
Kane remained the biggest threat, forcing Rui Silva into a save and later striking the post after skipping past a couple of defenders. Seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl, Bayern’s youngest-ever Champions League scorer, also went close. He tested Silva from close range and even scored a lovely curling finish inside five minutes, but it was ruled out for offside.
Sporting did not simply sit back, but Bayern’s pressing made it hard for them to get forward. Their only real moment came when Manuel Neuer had to stop Jonathan Tah accidentally turning a cross into his own net.
After the break, the match followed the same pattern, but Bayern struggled to create clear chances. Sporting gained confidence and ended up taking the lead. João Simões made a strong run down the right and crossed into the box, where Joshua Kimmich accidentally poked the ball into his own goal while trying to stop Luis Suárez scoring.
Bayern slowly worked their way back into the game. After chances for Kane and Karl, they equalised when Serge Gnabry tapped in Michael Olise’s corner at the back post.
Once Bayern score one, they often push on quickly. Soon they were ahead, with Karl controlling a pass from Konrad Laimer before firing past Silva, making him the youngest player in Champions League history to score in three matches in a row. Sporting, who had been slightly fortunate to go in front, struggled to respond. Silva kept them in the game by saving a header from Dayot Upamecano.
But in the end, Jonathan Tah sealed the win with a close-range volley, putting Bayern level with Arsenal at the top of the league phase, though still behind on goal difference. Sporting remain in a good position to reach the knockout rounds, but this defeat hurts their hopes of qualifying automatically for the last 16. Still, as this is their first loss in 13 matches, they are unlikely to worry too much.
