Lennart Karl Makes Champions League History As Bayern Claim Stunning Victory Against Sporting

 

Sporting Lisbon forfeited the opportunity gained from an own goal and lost in a comeback to Bayern Munich by 3-1, as the Germans moved up to second position in the league phase of the Champions League. 

Bayern lost their previous game in the competition to Arsenal, who are the table leaders. The Germans had a less entertaining first half, ending goalless before Joshua Kimmich's own goal set them back. Sporting were able to briefly contain their opponents in their own half. Then, Bayern scored three goals to win the game. 

After halftime, Kimmich gifted Sporting the opening goal, sliding for a clearance, which ended in the net. Bayern recovered the deficit 10 minutes later, and Serge Gnabry finished off a cross from a corner. Lennart Karl doubled the lead, curling home Laimer's through pass, following a failed call for a foul that allowed Bayern to break in. 

Jonathan Tah completed the comeback, following a free-kick.. Kimmick lobbed a cross into the box, arriving for Serge's header that landed on Tah's path for a tap-in from the edge of the six-yard box.

The victory restored Bayern to its winning way. Karl's goal was his third in three consecutive Champions games, making him the youngest ever to achieve the feat in the competition.

Overview 

Sporting let it slide, and Bayern took advantage of their ineptitude. Taking the lead should have kept the Portuguese through, but they were playing against the Germans, who are adept at capitalising on set pieces and fast breaks. Harry Kane and Karl came close to putting the Germans in the first half, but their efforts clipped the frame. 

Bayern seized Serge Gnabry's goal to restore confidence after Kimmick's own goal set them back, and Sporting left the winger unmarked, allowing the space to score. The Portuguese were keen on keeping Harry Kane at bay, without minding that Serge had moved into space for the set piece. Sporting lost the game that could have been theirs.