Davies celebrates comeback
©IMAGO
Spurred on by an unfortunate own goal from Joshua Kimmich, FC Bayern celebrated a successful end to the year in the Champions League with all their class. In the 3-1 (0-0) against Sporting Lisbon, national player Serge Gnabry (65th minute) and Lennart Karl (69th), who was again playing brilliantly, turned the game around with their double strike after the sudden deficit in the 54th minute.
Defender Jonathan Tah then increased the score (77′). With 15 points, the German champions are almost certain of a direct ticket to the round of 16 ahead of the final two matchdays in the league phase in January.
After falling behind, scoring goals suddenly became easy for Munich after they were unable to break through the Portuguese champions’ deep defense in the first half. An early goal from Karl was disallowed because Gnabry was in the offside position (5th). And Harry Kane, for example, was unlucky with a shot at the post (37th).
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany called for “full focus” before kick-off. The Belgian relied on an energetic FC Bayern with “freshness”, which he documented with seven changes to the starting eleven compared to the 5-0 win at VfB Stuttgart three days earlier. But the game in the Munich Arena quickly resembled working in a quarry.
It was difficult to run against Sporting’s defensive bulwark. Without several key players who were unable to play, guest coach Rui Borges formed his team with a five-man defensive chain and a row of four in front, very massed and deep. Bayern started running, with Karl, with Gnabry, with Kane and with Michael Olise. But the attack failed at the latest due to goalkeeper Rui Silva.
It was 0-0 at the break – and that was also thanks to Manuel Neuer. Because the footballing talent in the Portuguese champions’ team also flashed. Often in the person of Geny Catamo on the right wing. Tah tackled his sharp cross – and captain Neuer had to prevent an own goal with a reflexive defensive movement of his left hand.
After the break, pyrotechnics in the Bayern fan block plunged the stadium into fog. And before it had fully moved, the ball was in Neuer’s goal exactly in front of the south curve. The 18-year-old João Simões, who had assured the evening before in the Munich Arena that “we are not afraid,” hit Tah while dribbling. And Kimmich extended the cross from the great Sporting talent into his own goal. This time Neuer was also powerless.
The 0-1 score could have shocked Bayern. But it only spurred her on even more. Gnabry converted a corner from Olise at the second post – 1:1. Then Karl scored after preparation by Konrad Laimer. The 17-year-old continued to write Champions League history, as no player so young in the premier class scored in three consecutive games. After a cross from Kimmich and Gnabry’s assist, Tah made the decision with a decisive finish. Alphonso Davies celebrated his comeback after a torn cruciate ligament in the final phase.
