On matchday six of the ongoing European Champions League, Bayern Munich defeated Sporting Club of Portugal by a score of 3-1 at the Allianz Arena. Bayern started the game on the front foot and came close to scoring on several occasions, but the result remained goalless at the break.
Nine minutes into the second half, the visitors took a shock lead courtesy of an own-goal from Joshua Kimmich when he inadvertently redirected a cross from the left past Manuel Neuer.
However, that was to be the only celebration on the evening for the visitors. A goal apiece from Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl, and Jonathan Tah in the space of 12 minutes secured the win for the reigning German Champions. Let’s take a look at the top performers for Bayern from Tuesday’s 3-1 victory.
Lennart Karl
Germany’s 17-year-old Wunderkind shone the brightest for Bayern in the first half. Just five minutes into the game, it initially appeared as if he had given Bayern the lead with a touch of finesse following a cross from Serge Gnabry. However, following VAR review, Gnabry was adjudged to have been just slightly offside in the build-up.
In the 69th minute, Karl eventually got his deserved goal and gave Bayern the lead when he superbly controlled a cross from Konrad Laimer before smashing home with his weaker right foot. In scoring that goal, the teenager set a record for being the youngest player in Champions League history to score in three consecutive games. It was an all-round impressive performance from Karl on the evening. Apart from scoring, he registered three of his five shots on target, created three chances, and also completed three of six attempted dribbles.
The youngster was also quite effective off the ball with his pressing and counterpressing. In the 77th minute, just after the third goal, Bayern’s number ten received a fantastic round of applause from the fans when Raphael Guerreiro replaced him.