Fußball-Club Bayern München 3 Sporting CP 1

Fußball-Club Bayern München v Sporting CP

December 9th, 2025

Allianz Arena

Champions League Matchday 6

The warm up

I certainly cannot claim to be a fan of the new Champions League group format but it does appear to have one added bonus this season in that potentially we'll only get battered just the once by the German behemoth that is FC Bayern München. In theory that goes for our opponents on the following Matchday in the shape of the current European Champions PSG. We certainly won't be sat in the automatic qualification spots following those two games, though for the purposes of prosperity I'll throw in the fact we currently sit 8th in the table prior to kickoff. 

To say Bayern are a giant of German, European and World football is somewhat of an understatement. As of November 2025 they have over 432,500 registered club members. 4,425 worldwide supporters groups exist in turn of which there are over 328,500 members. They're going to shift the odd kit and scarf every season you'd imagine.

Since the 2005/06 season they have played at the 75,000 seater capacity Allianz Arena also known as the Schlauchboot (dinghy) owing to the unique shape of the stadium. Despite its capacity it is only Germany's second largest stadium behind the Westfalenstadion, home to BVB where the lions visited last season in the knockout rounds of this same tournament.

The club were founded by members of a gymnastics club in February 1900 and celebrated their 125th anniversary this year. They have gone on to become Germany’s most successful team, are the current Bundesliga champions having secured their 34th Championship last season under the mister Vincent Kompany. Between 2013 and 2023 they won an unprecedented 11 straight league titles. Add to the mix 20 DFB-Pokals, 11 Supercups, 6 DFL-Ligapokals (Think Taça de Portugal, Supertaça and Taça da Liga), 6 European Cups / Champions Leagues, 1 UEFA Cup (Now the Europa League), 1 European Cup Winners Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 2 FIFA World Club Cups and 2 Intercontinental Cups. In 2020 they accomplished the sextuple of winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League, DFL-Supercup, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. They do OK I guess.

Nicknamed Die Bayern (The Bavarians), Stern des Südens (Star of the South), Die Roten (the Reds) and probably most famously FC Hollywood. Not to be confused with the man I call Hollywood, one Daniel Bragança. 

After a ridiculous winning start to their campaign they have had a slight wobble in recent weeks which has seen me shift from absolutely shitting it ahead of this fixture to slightly bricking it. They say a fool and his money are easily parted so I’m going to take the long held Irish view of having long pockets and short hands when it comes to the lions in this game and won't be betting us to win. Previous meetings between the two clubs have gotten progressively worse it’s fair to say. They met in the Champions League at the Alvalade in October of 2006 and despite going down to ten men in the second half Bayern won 1-0. In the game in München, Sporting came away with a creditable 0-0 draw and that's as good as it ever got in past meetings. Fast forward to the round of 16 in February 2009. Sporting handed their arses in the Alvalade 5-0. If that wasn’t bad enough what was left of their arses saw them lose 7-1 in München to go crashing out of the competition 12-1 on aggregate. Try pick the positives out of those two games. Well João Moutinho did technically make it 7-1 on aggregate for all of about a minute and then Bayern made it 8-1. Yeah that's all I've got. Did I mention the 0-0 draw? I did? Bugger.

As I begin to roundup their season to date at the time of writing maybe I’ll start with the positives. Union Berlin became the first side to claim a point from them in the Bundesliga when they drew 2-2 at home on November the 8th. However that is the only points they’ve dropped domestically all season. Arsenal beat them 3-1 in the last round of the Champions League, however we’re clearly not to Arsenal’s standard and of course lost 5-1 to them last season. Otherwise in all competitions it’s played Played 20, won 18, drawn 1, lost 1. They’ve scored in every game. If you include their pre-season friendlies they won 19 straight games before the Union draw. In the league it’s played 12, won 11, drawn 1, goals for 44, goals against 9. Their closest rival is RB Leipzig, Conrad Harder’s new side who sit 8 points off the league leaders. It does look rather ominous doesn’t it? Maybe I am still shitting in after all. 

They won the Super Cup in the curtain raiser 2-1 against VfB Stuttgart. They’ve scored 7 times in 2 games in the DFB Pokal. At home their Bundesliga record reads played 7, won 7, goals for 29, goals against 4.

Of their 44 goals in the Bundesliga 32 have come from open play, 7 from set pieces, 4 penalties and 1 own goal. They’re outperforming their XG massively which is 31.9. Twelve goal scorers in the Bundesliga led by Harry Kane who has 14 to his name, Luis Diaz (who will be suspended for this fixture) has 7 and Michael Olise has 6. They’ve scored the most goals in the division, conceded the fewest, have the top scorer in Kane, joint top assist maker in Olise. Kane has 17 goals and assists combined. Highest average possession, joint most clean sheets with 6, Highest average shots on target per game with 8, created 55 Opta defined big chances missing 25 of those. They average 645 accurate passes per game and have the highest total touches in the opposition box at 446. RB Leipzig have had more corners though with 76, probably because Bayern are too busy putting the ball into the net. 

Their Champions League campaign began at home to Club World Cup Champions Chelsea where they won 3-1 through a Harry Kane brace and a Trevor Chalobah own goal. Guilty of missing 3 of their 4 big chances, they recorded 16 attempts to 9 and finished with an XG of 2.07 to 0.73. So even the supposed best side in the world couldn't beat them in Germany. Someone sound the - this looks ominous claxon. 

Matchday 2 saw them pit their wits against Champions League debutants Pafos FC away from home who were brushed aside 5-1. Another brace for Kane. Guerreiro, Jackson and Olise with the other goals as they went in at half time 4-1 to the good. SEVEN missed big chances of ELEVEN CREATED. Fuck a duck. 26 attempts to 6, the XG 4.54 to 0.39. 

Matchday 3 was at home to our last opponents in the competition Club Brugge. Their first cleansheet in the competition running out 4-0 winners. They went ahead after just 4 minutes through the 17 year old Lennart Karl, Kane getting his 5th of the tournament with Luis Diaz and Jackson with the remaining goals. Just the five missed big chances of the seven created. 26 attempts total. The XG 4.20 to 0.25.

Matchday 4 saw them travel to the current Champions League holders PSG where a Luis Diaz brace put them 2-0 up at half time before he was sent off and handed a subsequent 3 match ban which is why he’s absent for the match against the lions. Ex-Benfica star João Neves with the consolation goal for the Parisians. 

Matchday 5 saw them travel away again, this time to North London in the aforementioned 3-1 loss to current Premier League leaders Arsenal. They fell behind on 21 minutes but equalised when the 17 year old Wunderkind Kahl scored his second Champions League goal. However they had no answer to two second half goals. They scored their only big chance of the game and finished with an XG of just 0.65 to 3.11. Arsenal missed 4 of their 7 big chances and had just an 80% passing accuracy on the night completing 275 passes to 461 for Bayern. This is like the scene in Dumber and Dumber when Jim Carey says “So you're saying there's a chance!” 

Summer transfer business

Incoming

Nicolas Jackson on loan from Chelsea, a deal which reportedly came with a fee of £14m.

Luis Diaz from Liverpool for £59m.

Jonathan Tah from Leverkusen on a free transfer.

Outgoing

Eric Dier to Monaco, Frans Krätig to Salzburg, Leroy Sané to Galatasaray, Mathys Tel to Spurs, Gabriel Vidovic to Dinamo Zagreb, Max Scholze to Ulm, Arijon Ibrahmiovic to FC Heidenheim, Maurice Krattenmacher to Hertha, Max Schmitt to Ulm, Tom Hülsmann to Hartberg, Nestory Irankunda to Watford, Daniel Peretz to Hamburger, Matteo Perez Vinlöf to Dinamo Zagreb, Hyun-Ju Lee to Arouca, Lovro Zvonarek to Grasshopper, Adam Aznou to Everton, Bryan Zaragoza to Celta Vigo, Thomas Müller to Vancouver Whitecaps, João Palhinha to Spurs, Tarek Buchmann to FC Nürnberg , Kingsley Coman to Al Nassr, Paul Wanner to PSV Eindhoven, Jonah Jusi-Asare to Fulham and finally Gibson Adu to Altach. 

Talk about confidence in your title winning squad that you only bring in three players, one a free transfer and on a loan signing with a view to a permanent move next summer. Some familiar names in the outgoings of course with Eric Dier and João Palhinha both ex-Sporting players and it’s worth mentioning the loss of their record appearance maker Thomas Müller to Vancouver Whitecaps who has joined up with another ex-Sporting player in Ryan Gauld who is being celebrated like the second coming out in Canada. Was poorly treated during his time with Sporting so really pleased that he's landed on his feet finally and getting the plaudits and adulation that his obvious talent deserves.

Along with their nickname of FC Hollywood, Bayern are probably most famous for their choice of goal celebration music which is the can-can. Yeah you read that right the can-can. Don't believe me well you're sure to hear it often e-fucking-nough over the course of this game I'm sure. Apparently introduced in the 1990s as a way to liven up the atmosphere in the old stadium which came complete with a running track around the playing surface, it doesn’t confirm whether it also came with the dancing girls. It was replaced by The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army for several years before fans groups petitioned the club to re-instate the music in 2019. Who says the German's don't have a sense of humour? Given David Hasselhof was a huge pop star in Germany I don't think I'm doing them a disservice by saying they have shit taste in music. Better taste in football teams if you're a Bayern fan at least. 

The club’s identity is synonymous with the phrase Mia san mia which is Bavarian. Translated into German it is Wir sind wir and it’s English translation is simply We are who we are. For the fans it represents a powerful philosophy built on three core pillars; Unshakable self-confidence, strong collective identity and rootedness in Bavarian Culture. In short and to paraphrase, they’re renowned for having their own heads shoved up their arse and being egotistical maniacs throwing their toys out of their pram in much the same manner as the dirty pigeons across the road. Well that's me off their Christmas card list I guess. I'm not worried about karma I already expect us to be thumped and it I get hit by a bus and miss the game I'll chalk it down as a win. 

Despite the Bundesliga not having the benefit of Premier League levels of TV income this hasn't stopped the German giant remaining one of the wealthiest clubs in all of European football season upon season. According to the Deloitte Money League their last reported revenues in 2024 were €765.4m up 3% on the season before, that despite only finishing 3rd in the Bundesliga that campaign. Their total annual wage bill is reported to be in the region of €257.4 million meaning their average player earns around €8.5 million. For context Diomande earns around €600,000 per annum. Top earner is Harry Kane with a reported salary of €25m per annum. No wonder he seems to be loving life in Germany. 

Historicallly the club wasn't known for splashing big money about on transfers instead picking up their rivals best players at the end of their contracts on higher wages and thus securing their dominance in the Bundesliga for the longest of times. It's rumoured that at one stage as many as 8 of the clubs stars were on 8 figure salaries annually. Manuel Neuer the 39 year old goalkeeper reportedly earns €21m per annum, Joshua Kimmich €19.5m and Serge Gnabry €18.87m. 

Getting rid of Sané in the summer saved them €15m, Coman €17m, Pahlinha €10m and even Dier was said to earn €5m a season. Spare a thought for poor Tarek Buchmann who apparently earns just €150,000 per annum. 

The fixture schedule has of course seen us having to play the Dérbi de Lisboa on Friday night which is really, really helpful when taking on a side on of this magnitude. I'm really looking forward to this match as you can probably tell already. If Pafos can score past them and they've only kept a clean sheet against Club Brugge we may hope to get a goal on the night. If that happens let's hope it doesn't come in the first five minutes and we find we've kicked a hornets nest. We could forfeit the next two games, let the players have the rest and take two 3-0 defeats which is probably a better outcome on paper than we could possibly hope for. I genuinely would not be surprised to see us lose 5-1 in this fixture. I think the gulf in quality is all too apparent with the likes of Olise and Kane to defend against. Still stranger things happen at sea. Mind you the Titanic sunk at sea and unlike our defence that was claimed to be unsinkable. Well there's ten minutes of your life you'll never get back. Will you add another 90 to that tally with eyes on this fixture or take the dog for a long walk? Maybe they'll have dysentery in the camp prior to build up? If they do Sporting would be in the shit either way I guess. 1745 kick off for this one folks so even longer to sulk before bedtime when we inevitably lose. I'd sell my Granny for a win in the Dérbi on Friday and gladly take a beating in this fixture to countenance it.

Keep an eye on bookings for either Gonçalves, Araújo or Hjulmand who are all one away from being suspended for the game against PSG as is Nuno Mendes for his potential return to the José Alvalade since his departure.

Next up for Bayern is Union Berlin away on the DFB Pokal on Wednesday and then VfB Stuttgart on Saturday. So at least Sporting will have an additional few hours rest. Me, clutching at straws? How very dare you.

Wednesday update

Bayern progress to the next round of the DFB Pokal with a 3-2 win away to Union. Another Harry Kane goal sandwiched between two Union own goals. If that wasn't odd enough both their consolation goals came from penalties. Union finished with a vastly superior XG of 2.69 to 0.74. 

Saturday update 

Bayern win again away to VfB Stuttgart 5-0. Harry Kane with another match ball for his collection with a 12 minute second half hat-trick. Laimer gave the Bavarians the lead and Stanisic added the fifth. Stuttgart reduced to ten men with a little over ten minutes to go which won't have helped their cause, already 3-0 down at that juncture. The lions have a huge task on their hands Tuesday teatime. 

Monday update 

The lions without a Pote to piss in as they leave Trincão, Quenda and Gonçalves behind in Lisboa. Salvador Blopa increasingly likely to be afforded more opportunities over the coming games with Quenda's injury set to keep him out for two months and Geny's absence owing to the upcoming African Cup of Nations. 

Sporting B

Felgueiras 1932 v Sporting B

December 6th, 2025

Matchday 13

Starting XI 

Silva, Blopa, Moreira, Rômulo, Dias, Cardoso, Oliveira, Justo, Couto, Ribeiro and Nel.

Substitutes 

Pires, José Silva, Gonçalves, Anjos, Felicíssimo, Besugo, Gabriel Silva, Mota and Mendonça.

Sporting began the day knowing a win away would take them temporarily 3 points ahead of Maritímo before their game at home to Torreense later in the afternoon. Felgueiras came into the match without a win in their previous six outings in all competitions, the last coming in a 2-0 home win against Feirense way back on October 5th. They sit perilously close to the relegation places separated by just one point and goal difference. Sporting meanwhile unbeaten in six albeit having dropped points away to Penafiel and Chaves last month.

On a quagmire pitch resembling more of a farmers field than a football pitch, the first half punctuated more by bookings than goals with the referee brandishing five yellows in total as the two sides went into the break level at 0-0. Sporting however raced out of the traps to take the lead through Rodrigo Ribeiro with the assist coming from Rafael Nel. Just 24 seconds had passed when Ribeiro's shot from the edge of the right of the six yard box deflected off the keeper and into the net. 

Heading into additional time Paulo Cardoso was replaced by the 21 year old Lucas Anjos. A frenetic additional time period would see Nel and Gonçalves both booked and a sending off for Jean Felipe the veteran Brazilian defender who hadn't even been on the pitch for ten minutes before trudging off again. Anjos had the last word in the game as he compounded the home side's misery with Sporting's second five minutes into injury time with the assist by Flávio Gonçalves. The midfielder cleverly dinked the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper from 8 yards and despite the ball seemingly falling in slow motion and the best attempts of a defender to run back through the mud, the ball eventually fell over the line into the bottom right hand corner. Full time Felgueiras 1932 0 Sporting B 2

Saturday update 

Maritímo draw level with Sporting on points after their 2-0 win. Both goals coming after Torreense were reduced to ten men after just 20 minutes. The lions still with the game in hand over the islanders.

Sporting CP Feminino 

Rio Ave v Sporting CP

Sunday December 7th, 2025

Matchday 7

Starting XI 

Wellman, Fonseca, Barron, Cherry, Bonsegundo, Haugen, Hernandez Grey, Pérez, Capeta, Encarnação and Santiago 

Substitutes

Potra, Cancelinha, Fontemanha, Arques, Neto, Raphino, Lino, Nave and Correia.

The two sides met for the second time this campaign and certainly in better weather conditions when the lionesses progressed with a win in the Taça. They nearly took the lead on 20 minutes when Capeta’s downward header was saved first by the keeper and then the rebound cleared off the line. On 26 minutes Telma had the ball in the back of the net as she turned and finished from 10 yards but her effort correctly ruled out for offside. Half time Rio Ave 0 Sporting CP 0.

It didn't take long after the restart for the lionesses to take the lead as Telma continued her fine start to the campaign smashing home a poor defensive header from 20 yards into the bottom left hand corner just one minute into the half. So close to 2-0 just two minutes later as Capeta found Telma whose first time volley whistled past the left hand post from ten yards. Santiago made it 2-0 on 58 minutes as she lost her marker wide left of the area and scored with a neat finish into the bottom right hand corner. The third goal came from the substitute Raphino who got on the end of a Haugen cross from the left, drifting between two defenders and finishing first time from 11 yards. The home side managed to pull one back with 6 minutes remaining with a scrappy goal from inside the six yard box. Full time Rio Ave 1 Sporting CP 3. The Lionesses remain 5 points off the neighbours in second place. 

UEFA Youth League 

FC Bayern Munich v Sporting CP

December 9th, 2025

Matchday 6

FC Bayern Campus Platz 1

Starting XI 

Gouveia, Costa, Taibo, Mota, Tomás, Cunha, Camacho, Simão, Mendes, Kissanga and Silva

Substitutes

Tverdohlebov, Santos, Lopes, Soares, Bafdili, Siza, Farinha, Almeida and Ferreira.

The youngsters got off to the worst possible start as they fell behind to a penalty converted by Yil Gashi with just 6 minutes of the game played. On 15 Gouveia saw his save fall straight at the feet of May on Douglas Cardozo on the edge of the 6 yard box and he duly smashed it into the net to double the Bavarians lead. 

Hope came in the form of a goal back from Gabriel Silva with an intelligent finish low past the onrushing keeper from 15 yards out. Half time Bayern München 2 Sporting CP 1.

Any half time talk would have flown out the window as just 11 seconds into the second half Sporting fell 3-1 behind as Bohlan Olychenko headed in unmarked from 8 yards. On 78 minutes Taibo met a header from the far side from Silva and the defender guided it into the net to cut the deficit to 3-2. Despite conceding 3 times the lions had Gouveia to thank as he tipped a goal bound header over the bar from 10 yards with seven minutes remaining. Five full minutes into additional time Silva saw his shot from 8 yards paried into the path of Taibo who tapped into an empty net to cap the most incredible comeback for the boys. Full time Bayern München 3 Sporting CP 3. Gabriel Silva man of the match with a goal and two assists. 

In the markets 

Bayern 2/9

Draw 5/1

Sporting 10/1

Team News 

Starting XI 

Silva, Araújo, Diomande, Fresneda, Quaresma, Reis, Simões, Hjulmand, Geny, Alisson and Suárez 

Substitutes 

Virgínia. Callai, Vagiannidis, Inácio, Mangas, Kochorashvili, Morita, Blopa, Felicíssimo, Ribeiro, Gonçalves and Ioaniddis 

Inácio drops down to the bench struggling coming into the game with a knock. Morita drops down to the bench with Gonçalves and Trincão out through injury. That means starts for Quaresma, Reis, Simões and Alisson. Double bubble keepers on the bench, can we play three at once? Blopa, Ribeiro, Flávio Gonçalves and Felicíssimo all in the matchday squad.

Bayern starting XI 

1 Neuer, 27 Laimer, 2 Upamecano, 4 Tah, 44 Stanisic, 6 Kimmich, 45 Pavlovic, 17 Olise, 7 Gnabry and 9 Kane 

First Half 

The under 19s twice came from 2 goals down at lunchtime to snatch an improbable 3-3 draw. This seems like an impossible task before a ball is even kicked. As the players wait to exit the tunnel it's the Sportinguista's in attendance that can be heard. 

The mister looks relaxed, Suárez looks like he's at a seance contacting the dead, arms aloft, eyes closed. 

Bayern 4-2-3-1

Sporting 4-2-3-1 

Araújo shown in the centre of the 3 behind Suárez on the on screen graphics. We'll wait to see how accurate that is when we kick off. 

Sporting in all black with silver trim. Bayern get us underway, the lions attack right to left. 

2 Worrying signs when Kane fancies he can beat your keeper from 28 yards. He couldn't however with that effort which sails over Silva's bar 

3 Slip from Araújo let Bayern clear on the left but thankfully the pass overcooked

4 Simões slips off the ball. It's PSV all over again. Incredible players cannot choose the right footwear 

4 GOAL Bayern München 1 Sporting CP 0. Karl with a nonchalant effort from 17 yards. Assistant had his flag up on the nearside. VAR checking. Assistant was correct. Remains 0-0.

7 Sporting with the ball in the final third for the first time. They end up conceding a throw near side. They won't see much possession here and need to do better 

8 Sporting look to counter with Geny on the right but Bayern get back quickly in numbers and the ball goes backwards and the move breaks down 

9 Infographics wide of the mark having Araújo in the middle behind Suárez, he's been acting in defence on the left in support of Reis

11 Olise effort from 11 yards blocked in the centre. His run started with a lovely flick over the head of his marker

12 Olise effort blocked from 23 yards by Hjulmand 

12 Karl tries to curl an effort from 20 yards which goes wide of the left hand post 

13 Quaresma pass to Geny goes straight out. The ball comes back onto the pitch in record time. Long night ahead

14 Reis with a long ball forward looking for Araújo who was free of his marker but overhit 

15 One of those games where it'll be a clichéd 15 minute block followed by 5 more to come. First one passed - Just

15 Silva pounces like a cat to his right. Pass into the area trying to find the head of Kane just avoided everyone en route to the keeper 

16 Bayern sound like they've got a pocket of fans singing from somewhere possibly in Berlin they're so distant

16 Karl gets it all wrong and fires over from 8 yards. Huge let off 

17 Kane gets his head on a cross but sends it wide from 8 yards 

18 Kimmich and Olise make Araújo the filling in a sandwich. Breathing room for the lions 

18 Suárez fouled in the centre. Sporting playing like an NFL team trying to get a first down and move up the field 

19 Gnabry flashes a ball across the six yard box under the attention of Quaresma which thankfully goes out of play

20 Sporting warned for time wasting 

20 Corner Sporting far side as Geny has the ball nipped off his toes by Stanisic 

21 Reis on the edge of the six yard box tries to send his header goalwards from the Geny corner but out for a goal kick 

21 Poor back pass to Neuer hunted down by Suárez but these are the moments the German loves and he's s cool and calm and plays Bayern out of any potential trouble

23 Gnabry has Silva at full stretch to top an effort one handed out for a corner. The shot came in wide left about eight yards out from the goal line. Great save from Silva 

24 Bayern could easily clock up 600-700 passes tonight 

25 Wow 225 passes already. Someone was reading my mind to flash that up on the screen

25 Suárez caught behind by Upamecano. The Colombian asking why no booking 

26 Fresneda slips. I've not seen a single Bayern player go down because of poor choice of footwear 

27 Geny slides a ball close to the six yard box cut out by Tah who sends the ball flying at Neuer to force a save from 7 yards 

30 Second block of 15 completed. The lions have slowly grown into the game this last fifteen 

30 Silva flies to the right to bring down a Kane effort from 12 yards. The Portuguese imperious again tonight. Rare he gets the chance to show what a great keeper he actually is 

32 Geny catches Kimmich with a flying kick into the midriff. Fortunate the German was off the pitch when contact was made

34 Gnabry finds the hands of Silva once more. Not sure if that was a cross gone wrong or a shot 

35 Araújo fires a ball from the left trying to find Fresneda, intercepted and out behind for a corner 

35 Suárez headed on the edge of the six yard box out for a goal kick 

36 Kane smashes a ball against the post from inside the D. The lions again leading a charmed life 

39 Reis with a long ball far right found Fresneda who slipped again but retained possession. Good opening again ruined by a poor choice of footwear. I hope someone on the staff is sorting out new boots for the second half 

40 The lions with possession for over a minute see it end with Alisson attempting a pass with Araújo offside and he let it go out of play 

41 Quaresma with a poor tackle on Stanisic 32 yards out. Somehow escapes a yellow 

41 Stanisic heads wide from 8 yards. I have no idea how this is still 0-0

43 Karl brings another fine save from 6 yards 

43 Olise curls his effort wide from 18 yards

44 Geny with the ball into the six yard box again smothered by Neuer. Clearly a tactic they've worked on 

Plus one shown 

Half time 

Bayern München 0 Sporting CP 0

The lions have had a great opportunity to score, you just need to discount the fact it came from the centre back Tah. Otherwise their only two efforts came from poor headers from Reis and Suárez. Incredibly though the two sides go in at half time level. 13 attempts total for the Bundesliga leaders who racked up 356 passes in turn. Getting to half time level is only down to the superb performance of Silva in goal, the assistant referees flag and some poor finishing from Bayern. At some point in this half of the lions don't change their footwear it's going to be a slip that lets Bayern score the opener. We saw it away in PSV previously in the Champions League and I don't want to sound like an old woman but fuck me they're supposed to be professionals. 

We've a long way to go still in this game. Sporting will have to hope one of their rare counter attacks pays dividends. At least unlike their second half against Benfica they've registered some attempts this second half. 

Second Half

Well the first half went better than expected in so much as it finished 0-0. This is the first time Bayern held scoreless at half time. No changes from either side, Sporting get us back underway.

45 Just 25 seconds into the half and Sporting's defence busy again clearing their lines 

45 A wall of fire behind Neuer in the Bayern goal as the Bayern fans light it up quite literally 

46 Slip in the centre and the lions break free. Alisson pulls his effort wide from wide left. Shades of the Dérbi on Friday where the pressure paying off

48 Alisson has come alive suddenly as he tries to beat Upamecano in a foot race but runs out of pitch 

49 Sporting have had the better opening but four minutes do not make a match. Visibility appalling as the smoke from the flares not clearing giving the impression they're playing in thick fog 

50 Diomande drives from the box to the half way line. The lions full of determination and growing in confidence 

51 Geny dispossessed in the centre after the lions pressure had won the ball back again 

52 Kane with Bayern's first chance of the half and out for a goal kick 

53 GOAL Bayern München 0 Sporting CP 1. Simões wide left with the ball into the six yard box and Kimmich with the final touch sends it past Neuer from 5 yards. Some things you couldn't make up. Sporting are leading Bayern München in Bavaria 

55 The lions have started this half how they started the Dérbi forcing turnovers, confident in possession 

56 Bayern unbeaten at home in 36 matches in the UCL. Wow. Sportinguista's making all the noise up in the Gods. They probably didn't see much of the goal with all the smoke between them and the far end of the pitch 

57 Fresneda wise to a little back heel on the box clears 

58 Araújo quick to nip the ball off the toes of Olise and out for a throw 

59 Kimmich fires into the hands of Silva from 20 yards. Easily dealt with 

59 Karl gives Silva more catching practice straight at the keeper 

60 With an hour gone Sporting haven't had a shot on target. Reminder of the score Bayern 0 Sporting CP 1 

61 Alisson with the ball into the six yard box again this time smothered by Neuer 

63 I feel like I'm in a cheese dream as Alisson attacks first down the left and then Geny down the right and every player other than Silva in the Bayern half 

64 Corner far side to Bayern 

64 GOAL Bayern München 1 Sporting CP 1. Sense of déjà vu from Friday as the Germans score at the back post. Gnabry equalises from 4 yards. Well it was fun whilst it lasted 

65 ➡️ ⬅️ Mangas for Alisson

66 Great recovery from Araújo in the centre and skill from Fresneda to bring the ball away. Sporting look for the run of Mangas but the ball goes out of play 

67 Suárez runs clear on the right from the halfway line and loses the ball with a poor first touch 

67 Simões drives forward with the ball. He's a great watch in full flight 

68 GOAL Bayern München 2 Sporting CP 1. Suárez had his shirt pulled back in the buildup to that goal and nothing given. They worked it's way out to the right and eventually the ball fell to Karl who scores with the help of Silva who can only push the ball in from a narrow angle. 

70 It's all kicking off in the centre. Yellow flashed to Kimmich. Hjulmand also booked so that's him out of the PSG game. Not sure what kicked that all off as Sporting went to restart the game 

71 Diomande flattens Karl legally on the edge of the box. This game has some needle all of a sudden 

72 Corner nearside to Bayern

73 Lions head clear easily. Ball comes back in and Upamecano sees a header from 7 yards saved 

75 Suárez the latest Sporting player to slip. 

76 ➡️⬅️ Goalscorer Karl replaced by Guerreiro as they show the replay of the goal from behind Silva. He'll be so disappointed with that…

76 GOAL Bayern München 3 Sporting CP 1. Header to the back post headed by Gnabry to Tah who slips as he shoots but still guides it into the net from 7 yards. The mister is fuming on the bench 

78 Vagiannidis readied on the sides 

79 Gnabry sends a shot wide of the far post from 8 yards 

80 ➡️⬅️ Geny and Quaresma for Vagiannidis and Ioannidis 

80 Sporting incredibly still to have a shot on goal. That'll be an odd record to come away from Bavaria with potentially with a goal on the scoresheet if it stays that way 

81 Bayern want a penalty. Vagiannidis tells Stanisic to get up. Referee agrees 

83 Suárez clean through loses his balance and his shot from 8 yards deflects for a corner. That should have been 3-2 

84 The under 19s came back from this point earlier. I don't think we'll see lightning strike twice in Bavaria though 

85 Diomande with strength bumps Guerreiro off the ball and Silva collects 

86 Fucking Suárez with the first touch of a trampoline again. Fuck me. Ioannidis had a charging run down the right, cut back for the Colombian and it cannons off him to a Bayern player 

87 ➡️ Davies, Ito and Goretzka on for Pavlovic, Gnabry and Stanisic 

87 Kane fouled by Simões in the centre. I'd forgotten he was playing 

89 Corner far side Bayern 

89 Blopa and Morita on the touchline as the seconds count out down to 90

Plus four shown 

90 ➡️⬅️ Araújo for Blopa and Simões for Morita 

+1 ➡️⬅️ Kane for Jackson 

+2 Goretzka heads wide from 10 yards 

+3 Yellow Laimer for a foul on Mangas in the final third 

+3 One last chance for the lions to get a shot on target. Morita over the free kick and it goes straight out of play 

Full time 

FC Bayern München 3 Sporting CP 1

The final word 

A valiant effort in the second half from the lions but the gap in quality was there to see throughout the 90 minutes. Still Sporting come away with a goal despite not having a shot on target over the course of the 90. Hjulmand yellow was the kicker given he'll now miss the PSG game. Thankfully Araújo doesn't suffer the same fate. Harry Kane it has to be said made to look very ordinary. I'm clutching at straws and in need of my dinner.

Belly full, or it will be when it works its way done in the next twenty minutes, but this isn't a roundup of me quelling my hunger. Well technically it is right now but I'll move swiftly on. There are some far bigger teams that have travelled to Bavaria and lost and personally I don't really have any complaints with the lions performance. I think they've done themselves proud and in the end we've seen what €600m extra in your budget brings. I thought Kane was a virtual passenger in the second half and similarly Olise never got his game going at any point and you have to imagine the two combined cost more than the Sporting squad and earn more than them too. 

Bizarre to come away having scored but not registered a shot on target but they could and should have done. Suárez guilty of having a first touch like a trampoline. If you're watching in HD you can literally see the confidence drain from him the longer games go on. It might not have been as bad as the Club Brugge miss but it was probably as painful to watch at times. Did he get fouled in the buildup for the second goal? It looked in real time like he'd been pulled over but you never know with the Colombian. That's the polite way of saying he goes down too easily, though from his reaction in the centre circle that kicked off the melee that saw Hjulmand get booked he certainly felt it was a foul. The petulance to get your captain booked though and to miss PSG is next level ineptitude on his part and I hope he's full of apologies inside the dressing room to the Dane. Whether it was or wasn't a free kick is neither here not there, Silva should have done better with the effort. Karl has no right to score from that distance or angle and it probably had less pace than he expected as he looks to push it over the bar but ended up pushing it up into the net. 

The opener was the same on Friday, no man on the back post and an early Christmas present. It's an adage as old as football itself, stand a man on each post. Had they done they'd have won Friday and Bayern … well Bayern would have equalised from somewhere eventually.

The third, again another body in the area unmarked who was able to slip and still score. Them’s the breaks. The better team won. That's how football generally works but not always. I'm not disappointed or angry, I'm content with the fact they didn't give up, they didn't get battered or humiliated. They stood toe to toe with one of the best sides in European and world football and managed to take a shock lead. Well they did when not slipping over. They've not lost at home in over 30 matches in the Champions League, the result was as expected. However just like on Friday night Sporting delivered a 20 minute cameo where you couldn't fail to be impressed by them. They were the better team in the opening salvo of the second half. Sadly Bayern are a giant of the game. Against another opponent they might have continued going through the gears. 

They kept Bayern to just two Opta defined big chances. They racked up 377 passes of their own and for large periods of the second half were able to show shades of their normal game. They came with an obvious game plan and had clearly targeted balls into the six yard box as a tactic, they just needed someone to attack the ball at the end of it. Well to be fair they did twice just in the form of Tah and Kimmich. 

Four choices for man of the match. I'll go with Matheus Reis for starters. I'd love to have seen him play on Friday night as I'm sure we all would but he had a solid performance especially given his lack of game time this season. Always dependable and I'd have him signed to a contract extension. Alongside him Diomande, strong in the challenge, completed 64 of his 67 passes, flattened Karl which amused me greatly. Third choice Simões, another good performance by the youngster, confident in possession, harried the Bayern midfield and he continues to grow in stature with every game. His pass it was of course that led to the opening goal. Final choice Rui Silva. Yes he makes the mistake for the second goal but he was equal to everything else thrown at him and without him it could have been a cricket score. He gets my vote as man of the match. 

AVS next up for the lions.