Short tremors, then a short process: thanks to three quick goals, FC Bayern Munich achieved an ultimately safe and groundbreaking 3-1 (0-0) victory in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon. Joshua Kimmich gave the Portuguese the lead with an own goal (54th minute), then Serge Gnabry (65th), Lennart Karl (69th) and Jonathan Tah (77th) redeemed the German record champions.
He celebrated his fourth competitive win in a row and is well on his way to the round of 16 in the premier class. With 15 points, Bayern are back in second place. They could theoretically be passed through to fifth place during the matchday, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Bundesliga leaders took a big step towards the round of 16, for which the top 8 in the group phase qualify directly. Last season, 16 points were enough.
Bayern with lots of chances and bad luck
From the start, the game only went in one direction – that of the Portuguese goal. And Lennart Karl also scored very early on, but the Bayern youngster was unlucky that preparer Serge Gnabry had his shoulder just offside before his shot into the far corner (5th). In this situation, Munich lacked luck and then, above all, precision.
Sometimes a cross wasn’t quite accurate (Harry Kane narrowly missed in the 15th minute), sometimes a shot on goal could no longer be controlled (Karl from six meters in the 17th minute) and Sporting keeper Rui Silva was often there. The 31-year-old made strong saves after Gnabry’s shot (25′), Kane’s first shot on goal (31′) and a solo effort from Karl (41′), but he also needed help a second time. Kane came closest to taking the lead with his shot off the post in the 38th minute.
Bayern had everything under control, but they didn’t manage to reward themselves for their efforts. Lisbon hardly had any offense, but almost took the lead anyway. In the midst of Munich’s many chances, Jonathan Tah had slipped the ball towards his own goal after a Portuguese counterattack, where Manuel Neuer was just able to raise his hand to prevent the score being 0-1 (28′).
Kimmich slides the ball into the wrong goal
But that happened with the first opportunity after the break. Bayern stormed again, rebounded off the opponent’s defense and then ran into a counterattack. Joao Simoes prevailed because Tah didn’t really attack him, Kimmich ultimately deflected his cross into his own goal (54th). And suddenly the German record champions were threatened with their second Champions League defeat after the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal.
This could suddenly put Munich in trouble in terms of direct qualification for the round of 16 in the premier class. After four (clear) victories at the start, there was little doubt that Bayern would make it straight into the next round as one of the top 8 teams, but there are hardly any slip-ups allowed. At that moment, Sporting also moved past coach Vincent Kompany’s team (12 points) in the live table with 13 points.
Bayern’s double strike in four minutes
And that initially only resulted in central long-range shots from Kimmich and Karl, which posed no problems for Rui Silva. But then a standard situation helped again – Gnabry converted a corner from Michael Olise completely free-standing at the second post (65th). It was another well-rehearsed variation, Kane had blocked the way for his offensive colleague.
And with this action, Bayern had found the key to victory. Only four minutes later, the Kompany team combined through the opposing defense and Karl was lucky enough to slip through the hands of Rui Silva when his shot was actually too central (69′). And so the view of the table was much friendlier again, the direct route to the round of 16 was again very short with 15 points and games remaining against Union St. Gilloise (January 21st) and at PSV Eindhoven (January 28th).
Tah scores, Davies celebrates his comeback
This was confirmed when Tah made it 3-1 after a header assist (77th). FC Bayern only had to tremble for a short time, but then showed a very confident reaction to Kimmich’s own goal. And then there was a very happy moment for the Munich team, as Alphonso Davies celebrated his comeback after 262 days. The Canadian left-back, who had been out for a long time due to a serious knee injury, came on as a substitute in the 88th minute.
In the end, Bayern had an all-round successful Champions League evening in their own stadium – and want to experience one again next Sunday in the Bundesliga. After the exhilarating 5-0 win at VfB Stuttgart, the record champions return to their own arena for an unequal duel against bottom team Mainz 05.