Bayern Munich overturned a second-half deficit to claim a 3–1 victory over Sporting CP in the Champions League, with 17-year-old Lennart Karl once again at the heart of the comeback. The teenager, enjoying a breakthrough season of remarkable confidence and consistency, scored for the third consecutive Champions League match to help steer Bayern level on points with Arsenal at the top of the league phase.
Sporting stunned the Allianz Arena shortly after the interval when Bayern’s own Joshua Kimmich inadvertently diverted Ivan Fresneda’s driven cross into his own net. It was a cruel moment for the midfielder, who had tracked back to cut out Sporting’s rapid counterattack but ended up gifting the visitors a lead they had scarcely threatened during a first half dominated by Bayern possession.
Bayern had already created—and squandered—several chances before falling behind. Karl thought he had opened the scoring early when he slotted in from close range, only for the effort to be ruled offside. Harry Kane then came closest, curling a low shot past goalkeeper Rui Silva but against the inside of the post. Sporting, content to soak up pressure, remained composed defensively and sought opportunities through transitions, though they lacked precision in the final third.
The second half, however, sparked into life when Kimmich’s own goal shifted momentum. Rather than faltering, Bayern reacted with composure and ruthlessness. Ten minutes after going behind, Serge Gnabry equalised with a composed volley at the far post. Michael Olise delivered a teasing ball across the box, where Gnabry—completely unmarked—stepped onto it cleanly to beat Silva from five yards out.
With the stadium lifted, Bayern pressed for more. The breakthrough arrived on 69 minutes courtesy of Karl, whose technical maturity continues to enthral supporters and pundits alike. Running onto Konrad Laimer’s lofted pass into the penalty area, the teenager took a deft first touch to cushion the ball before driving a sharp finish inside the near post. Silva managed to get both hands to the effort but could not stop it from squeezing through—an error he will feel he could have avoided, but one that underscored Karl’s decisiveness.
Sporting, having been forced onto the back foot, struggled to regain control. Bayern’s relentless pressure soon produced the third goal. From a deep free-kick, Gnabry rose highest to nod the ball across the six-yard box, where Jonathan Tah reacted fastest to stab home from close range. It was a deserved reward for the defender, who had marshalled Bayern’s back line effectively throughout a match that demanded concentration against Sporting’s counters.
With the result secure, Bayern managed the final minutes comfortably, their dominance reflected in both possession and territory. Vincent Kompany’s side showed greater fluidity than in recent outings, with Olise, Gnabry, and Karl providing constant width and movement around Kane, who was named player of the match for his all-round influence. Although he didn’t get on the scoresheet, Kane linked play expertly and created multiple openings that helped Bayern maintain their attacking rhythm.
The victory offers Bayern another significant step toward securing knockout-stage qualification, while Sporting, who demonstrated spirit but lacked sustained pressure, remain outside the top spots and in need of points in their remaining fixtures.
Most striking, however, was the continued rise of Karl—a teenager playing with remarkable composure and confidence on one of European football’s biggest stages. With five goals already this season, and now three straight in the Champions League, he has quickly become one of Bayern’s most exciting talents. His “Messi-style” dribbling and intelligent movement, as described in recent analysis, were again on show as he played a pivotal role in turning the match around.
If he maintains this trajectory, Bayern may have unearthed Europe’s next great attacker—one whose impact is already being felt in decisive moments.
Bayern fight back to beat Sporting 3-1 as teen star Karl scores again, with Gnabry and Tah also on target after Kimmich’s own goal briefly put the visitors ahead.
