Fußball-Club Bayern München v Sporting CP

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. 

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. 

In the markets 

Bayern 2/9

Draw 5/1

Sporting 10/1