FC Bayern München 3-1 Sporting CP: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of FC Bayern München 3-1 Sporting CP in the Champions League on Tuesday, 09 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

FC Bayern München beat Sporting CP 3-1 at home. The first half ended goalless, with a VAR check on Lennart Karl in the sixth minute but no major incidents otherwise. Sporting took the lead early in the second half when Joshua Kimmich scored an own goal in the 54th minute, assisted by João Simões, catching Bayern on the back foot after their recent mixed form that included a loss to Arsenal but wins over Paris Saint-Germain and others.

Bayern turned things around quickly, with Serge Gnabry equalising in the 65th minute from a Michael Olise assist, followed by Lennart Karl’s goal in the 69th assisted by Konrad Laimer. Jonathan Tah then sealed the win with a 77th-minute strike assisted by Gnabry, just after Raphaël Guerreiro replaced Karl. Late substitutions and yellow cards, including for Kimmich and Laimer, added tension, but Bayern held on, building on their strong recent run of four wins in five games.

Bayern dominated possession with 62% of the ball, allowing them to control the tempo and create more opportunities, while Sporting’s 38% share forced them into a more defensive posture with occasional breaks. They edged corners 4-3 and had more successful dribbles at 62 to 53, showing Bayern’s superior attacking fluidity, though both sides picked up yellow cards – two for Bayern and one for Sporting – without any reds or second yellows disrupting the flow.

No injury-time goals or penalties were recorded, but Bayern recorded three assists compared to Sporting’s zero, highlighting their better chance creation. Substitutions saw Bayern make five changes, including Raphaël Guerreiro for Lennart Karl at 77 minutes, a triple switch at 88 minutes with Hiroki Ito for Josip Stanisic, Alphonso Davies for Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka for Aleksandar Pavlovic, plus Nicolas Jackson for Harry Kane at 90+2; Sporting also used five, starting with Ricardo Mangas for Alisson Santos at 66 minutes and ending with two at 90+2.

The match’s turning point came in the second half, starting with Joshua Kimmich’s own goal in the 54th minute that gave Sporting a surprise lead. Bayern responded decisively, equalising through Serge Gnabry in the 65th assisted by Michael Olise, before Lennart Karl put them ahead in the 69th with Konrad Laimer’s assist. Jonathan Tah’s 77th-minute goal, assisted by Gnabry, killed off the contest right after Raphaël Guerreiro replaced Karl.

Disciplinary action included yellow cards for Joshua Kimmich in the 71st for an unspecified offence and Morten Hjulmand in the same minute, plus Konrad Laimer’s booking in stoppage time at 90+4. Late substitutions bolstered both sides, but Bayern’s changes at 88 and 90+2 minutes helped them see out the win without further drama.

FC Bayern München lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with attacking threats like Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl pushing forward effectively, supported by midfield partnerships involving Konrad Laimer and Aleksandar Pavlovic. Jonathan Tah provided defensive solidity while contributing a goal, and substitutions such as Raphaël Guerreiro for Karl and Alphonso Davies for Gnabry added fresh legs in key areas. Harry Kane led the line until Nicolas Jackson replaced him late on.

Sporting CP set up in a 5-4-1 shape, focusing on a compact defence with players like Eduardo Quaresma holding the backline until Georgios Vagiannidis replaced him. Midfielders such as João Simões and Morten Hjulmand worked to disrupt Bayern’s rhythm, with the own goal from Joshua Kimmich ironically coming from Simões’ assist. Substitutes like Ricardo Mangas for Alisson Santos and Fotis Ioannidis for Geny Catamo aimed to inject energy, but they couldn’t overturn the deficit.

Serge Gnabry is Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match after a standout performance where he scored one goal and provided one assist, along with two key passes that helped drive Bayern’s comeback. Although he didn’t create any big chances, his direct involvement in two of the three goals proved decisive in turning the game around. Gnabry started the match and was substituted at 88 minutes for Alphonso Davies, but his impact was already clear by then.

Recent Champions League matches:

• Win: 3-1 vs Sporting CP (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Arsenal (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Paris Saint Germain (A)
• Win: 4-0 vs Club Brugge (H)
• Win: 5-1 vs Pafos FC (A)

Recent Champions League matches:

• Loss: 1-3 vs FC Bayern München (A)
• Win: 3-0 vs Club Brugge (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Juventus (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Olympique Marseille (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Napoli (A)

FC Bayern München have just beaten Sporting CP 3-1 at home, maintaining their strong recent form with four wins in their last five league games. Currently sitting second on 15 points, they will look to keep the pressure on the leaders when they face FSV Mainz 05 on 14 December 2025 at 16:30. With a chance to chase top spots and build on victories like their 4-0 over Club Brugge, this fixture offers Bayern an opportunity to extend their momentum.

Sporting CP have just lost 3-1 away to FC Bayern München, adding to a patchy recent form that includes a win over Club Brugge but also a draw with Juventus and a defeat to Napoli. Currently 13th on 10 points, they need to bounce back quickly against AVS on 13 December 2025 at 20:30. A positive result could help them climb the table and regain confidence after mixed results in their last five outings.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.