Bayern’s defeat to Arsenal on Matchday 5 of this season’s UCL remains their only loss in any competition this campaign, and they were clearly eager to bounce back from that loss upon the arrival of the Portuguese champions.
Harry Kane’s shot from distance that flew over the crossbar in the third minute set the tone as the Bavarians created a host of chances before the half-time whistle.
Kane was the main threat, forcing a save from Rui Silva before hitting the post from just outside the box after feinting past a couple of defenders.
Seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl - Bayern’s youngest-ever UCL scorer following his goal against Club Brugge earlier in the competition - was also a danger, testing Silva with a shot from close range, and even had the ball in the back of the net with a composed curling finish inside the opening five minutes before it was ruled out for offside.
Sporting, meanwhile, were not set up to just sit back and defend, but they were often quite simply unable to get out due to Bayern’s strong pressing. They did have one opportunity, although it wasn’t of their own making, as Manuel Neuer put out a hand to stop Jonathan Tah from putting into his own net after he intercepted a cross.
After the break, the same game pattern continued, but Bayern were not able to create as many chances initially. That gave Sporting some confidence, and it was the visitors who ultimately drew first blood.
Joao Simoes produced a strong run down the right, beating Konrad Laimer with a clever stop-and-go before crossing into the box and, in his attempt to prevent Luis Suarez from slotting home, Joshua Kimmich poked the ball past Neuer and into the far corner.
Slowly, though, Bayern grew back into the game and, after a couple of sighters from Kane and Karl, they equalised when Serge Gnabry tapped in Michael Olise’s corner unmarked at the back post.
Bayern have a way of stepping on the gas when they score once, and before long, they were in front. Laimer’s ball into Karl still gave the teenager plenty to do, but he controlled well before firing past Silva to become the youngest player in UCL history to score in three consecutive games.
Sporting, having arguably been fortunate to move in front in the first place, had next to no answer, with Silva’s save from Dayot Upamecano’s header keeping them in the game.
In the end, Tah’s close-range volley secured the points as Der Rekordmeister moved level with Arsenal at the league phase’s summit, albeit trailing on goal difference.
Sporting, meanwhile, remain in a strong position to reach the knockout stages, but this loss is a significant blow to their hopes of automatically qualifying for the last 16. This is their first loss in 13 games across all competitions, though, so they are unlikely to panic.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich)