Bayern Munich have had a habit recently of making things closer than necessary, but the home team did enough to comeback and win at the Allianz Arena. Bayern should be well on their way to advance to the Round of 16, as one of the top eight seeds, barring an absolute collapse in the last two matches.
Jersey Swap — Rui Silva
Rui Silva put together a great performance that will be overlooked since he conceded three goals. Bayern Munich took several great shots on goal that were miraculously saved by Silva. The Portuguese goalkeeper was beaten early by an incredible strike from Lennart Karl, but Bayern were unfortunately in an offside position. Serge Gnabry did beat Silva, but there was nothing the Sporting goalkeeper could have done about it. Later on, Silva was beaten by Karl and Tah, but the goalkeeper was simply being left out to dry at this point.
Der Kaiser — Jonathan Tah
The summer signing has been in fine form over the last two months, and while not perfect, he has certainly proved why he is Bayern material. His second goal across all competitions proved pivotal today and is a sign he can show up big when Bayern needs him most.
Speaking of defenders, it was great to see Alphonso Davies back on the pitch.
Der Fussballgott — Joshua Kimmich
It is rare to give someone an award in a match they conceded an own goal, but Kimmich’s performance speaks for itself. No contributions, but was absolutely everywhere in the opposing half tonight, creating all sorts of issues for the Portuguese visitors. His accuracy and creation is amongst the world’s best, and that was evident in this match.
Der Bomber — Lennart Karl
Lennart Karl is the reason why it is so exciting to watch this sport every week. A player at his age, doing what he is doing, is simply unbelievable. Unfortunately, Karl’s wonder strike early in the match was ruled offside, but his second goal was just as nice with an amazing first touch and a perfect shot past Silva. There is reason to get seriously excited about this kid, but nurturing his development will be the most important in the long run.
Meister of the Match — Serge Gnabry
While Lennart Karl would have been an equally great choice for this award, it was ultimately Gnabry’s contributions that decided the match for Die Roten. Not only did Gnabry score and assist, the German veteran passed at a near impossible rate of 90% in the opposition’s half, which is why Bayern were so successful in breaking down the Sporting defense where it counts most.
What do you think about the awards? Who else do you think deserved a shout? Let us know in the comments!
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…