Bayern Munich staged a spirited comeback to secure a 3-1 victory over Sporting CP in their Champions League clash at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night.
The German giants fell behind to a Joshua Kimmich own goal but recovered through strikes from Serge Gnabry, rising teenage sensation Lennart Karl, and Jonathan Tah, delivering another European triumph for Vincent Kompany’s side.
Karl shines again as Bayern overturn deficit
Bayern thought they were off to a perfect start when Karl coolly slotted into the bottom corner early on, only for VAR to rule out the effort as Serge Gnabry had drifted narrowly offside in the build-up.
The hosts continued to pile on pressure in the first half, Harry Kane struck the upright, and Karl saw a dazzling solo attempt tipped away by Rui Silva, but Sporting’s defence stood firm.
Momentum swung early in the second half as Sporting stunned the home crowd with a rapid counterattack.
Joao Simoes burst down the left and whipped in a dangerous ball, which an onrushing Kimmich inadvertently steered beyond Manuel Neuer while attempting to clear, gifting the Portuguese side a surprise lead.
However, Bayern responded swiftly. A superb Michael Olise corner found an unmarked Gnabry lurking at the far post, and the winger made no mistake, sweeping in the equalizer.
Moments later, the Allianz erupted again and it was Karl delivering the spark. The 17-year-old displayed brilliant composure in the box, cushioning a pass on his left before blasting in a right-footed finish to flip the game on its head and underline his rapid rise to stardom.
Sporting’s resistance faded as Bayern tightened their grip, and the third goal arrived through Tah. Kimmich, eager to atone for his earlier mistake, floated in a superb long pass to Olise, whose cushioned header fell perfectly to Tah to tuck away the clincher.
Karl’s goal not only proved decisive but also entered the record books. At just 17 years and 290 days, he is now the youngest player ever to score in three straight Champions League matches, a remarkable feat for Bayern’s newest prodigy.
Tough night for Kimmich
While Bayern celebrated a hard-earned win, it was a night Kimmich will want to forget. His unfortunate own goal put Bayern temporarily on the ropes, and frustrations showed as he picked up a yellow card during a brief skirmish later in the match.
The experienced midfielder struggled to find his usual rhythm despite contributing to the third goal.
