Bayern Munich vs Sporting CP Player Ratings: Serge Gnabry 9/10 Rated as Bavarians Fight Back for a 3-1 Win

What a strange game this turned out to be at the Allianz Arena. For a full hour, it looked like Sporting CP were going to pull off a classic smash-and-grab. They went ahead through a very unfortunate Joshua Kimmich own goal, a moment that really came against the run of play.

FC Bayern Munich absolutely dominated the ball from the first whistle. They created chance after chance, particularly in the first half. We felt a goal was inevitable, especially when Harry Kane rattled the post with a powerful strike. It just seemed like one of those frustrating nights was on the cards for the German giants.

But credit where it's due, Sporting's defense and goalkeeper were immense for a long period. The second half, however, exploded into life. The brilliant Serge Gnabry finally broke the dam with a close-range finish, and suddenly the floodgates opened. Quickfire goals from Lennart Karl and Jonathan Tah sealed a deserved, if nervy, 3-1 victory in this crucial Champions League match. It was a testament to their resilience. Here are Sportsdunia's Bayern Munich vs Sporting CP player ratings:

Bayern Munich Player Ratings vs Sporting CP

Check out the Bayern Munich player ratings for the Bayern Munich vs Sporting CP fixture.

Goalkeeper

Manuel Neuer - 6.5: A relatively quiet evening for the captain. He was left completely helpless for the bizarre own goal. Had to make one decent save but was otherwise not tested much. His distribution was clean and effective, launching a few quick counters. We noticed he claimed a high ball with real authority late on. A standard, no-fuss performance.

Defenders

Dayot Upamecano - 7.5: A commanding presence at the back. He was a beast in the tackle, winning six of his nine duels and showing immense strength. His forward passing was a key feature, breaking lines and finding midfielders in space. What stood out to us was his comfort on the ball under pressure. He was a real leader back there tonight and snuffed out several Sporting attacks before they began.

Jonathan Tah - 8.0: What a performance from the central defender. Not only was he incredibly solid defensively, making four tackles, but he also popped up with the goal that sealed the win. His passing was near-perfect, with a 98% accuracy rate. From our perspective, he read the game beautifully. He was composed, strong, and capped his display with a goal. You can't ask for much more.

Konrad Laimer - 7.0: A mixed bag but ultimately a positive contribution. He was caught out defensively a couple of times but made up for it with his work going forward. He provided the crucial assist for the go-ahead goal with a great cross. His energy was relentless, and he was always an option on the overlap. The assist bumps up his rating significantly for us.

Josip Stanisic - 6.5: A steady and reliable performance. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward but was defensively sound for the most part. He made two important tackles and was rarely beaten one-on-one. His passing was neat and tidy, keeping possession ticking over. A solid, if unspectacular, outing before being substituted late on.

Midfielders

Joshua Kimmich - 6.0: A very strange game to rate. He was at the heart of everything good for Bayern, with an incredible 119 passes and creating six chances. However, the calamitous own goal is a massive blot on his copybook. It was a moment of sheer misfortune that put his team under huge pressure. His creative output was undeniable, but the own goal was a major error you just can't ignore.

Serge Gnabry - 9.0: Our clear man of the match. He was simply electric. He scored the vital equalizer that turned the tide of the match. He also provided an assist and was a constant menace with his direct running. What stood out was his refusal to accept defeat when his team was down. He took the game by the scruff of the neck. An absolutely outstanding display.

Michael Olise - 8.0: A fantastic creative performance. He was the architect of so much of Bayern's attack, providing the assist for Gnabry's equalizer. He created five chances in total and completed six successful dribbles. From our perspective, his left foot is a wand, constantly probing and causing problems for the Sporting defence. A joy to watch when he's in this form.

Lennart Karl - 8.5: Scored the all-important second goal with a powerful finish that gave the keeper no chance. He was a goal threat throughout, registering five shots in total. He linked up play nicely and showed a great engine to get into the box. We were really impressed by his attacking instincts and intelligent movement. A game-changing performance from the midfielder.

Aleksandar Pavlovic - 7.5: The metronome in midfield. An incredible 97% pass accuracy from 109 passes tells the whole story. He completely controlled the tempo of the game. He kept the ball moving and was always available for a pass. Defensively he was sound, recovering the ball five times. A very mature and composed performance that laid the foundation for the comeback.

Forwards

Harry Kane - 6.5: A frustrating night for the striker. He was desperately unlucky to see his brilliant strike cannon back off the post in the first half. He got into good positions but couldn't quite find the finishing touch today. His hold-up play was good, but he was unusually quiet in front of goal. Not his best night, but he was still a handful.

Substitutes

Raphaël Guerreiro - N/A: Came on late for Lennart Karl with the game already won.

Alphonso Davies - N/A: Replaced the excellent Serge Gnabry for the final few minutes.

Hiroki Ito - N/A: A late defensive substitution for Josip Stanisic.

Leon Goretzka - N/A: Came on for the final minutes to see the game out.

Manager

V. Kompany - 7.5: His team showed great character to come back from a goal down. They never panicked and stuck to their attacking principles, which eventually paid off. The substitutions were managed well to see out the result. He'll be delighted with the response in the second half. A very good night's work for the manager.

Sporting CP Player Ratings vs Bayern Munich

Check out the Sporting CP player ratings for the Bayern Munich vs Sporting CP fixture.

Goalkeeper

Rui Silva - 7.5: Despite conceding three goals, he was outstanding. He made a remarkable seven saves, some of which were world-class. The fingertip save to deny Lennart Karl in the first half was simply breathtaking. He couldn't do much about any of the goals. Without him, the scoreline could have been much worse for Sporting.

Defenders

Matheus Reis - 6.5: A busy night for the defender. He made five clearances and was solid for large parts of the game. His distribution was tidy with 92% pass accuracy. However, he was part of a defence that eventually crumbled under relentless pressure. He did well but was ultimately overwhelmed by Bayern's attack.

Maxi Araújo - 5.0: A torrid evening. What stood out to us was how often he was dribbled past - a staggering six times. He really struggled to contain the fluid movement of Bayern's attackers. He lost the majority of his duels and looked off the pace. A night he'll want to put behind him quickly.

Iván Fresneda - 5.5: He had a difficult time, much like the rest of the backline. He made seven clearances which shows how much pressure he was under. However, he was dribbled past twice and struggled to impose himself on the game. He looked a bit lost at sea as Bayern turned up the heat in the second half.

Ousmane Diomande - 7.0: Probably the best of a beleaguered backline. His passing was exceptional at 97% accuracy, showing great composure. He made four clearances and two interceptions. He stood strong for as long as he could. A commendable effort in the face of an attacking onslaught.

Eduardo Quaresma - 5.5: He battled hard but ultimately came up short. He lost three of his five duels and looked vulnerable against the pace and power of the opposition. He was substituted with about ten minutes to go after a very demanding shift. A tough learning experience for the defender.

Midfielders

Geny Catamo - 6.5: Looked like Sporting's most likely source of creativity. He created three chances for his teammates and delivered some dangerous crosses. His influence waned as the game went on and his team was pushed deeper. He worked hard but was fighting a losing battle against a dominant midfield.

Alisson Santos - 5.5: A very ineffective performance. He lost possession a shocking 21 times and was dispossessed on seven occasions. He struggled to get into the game and make any meaningful impact. It was no surprise to see him substituted after 66 minutes. A disappointing display.

Morten Hjulmand - 6.0: The captain worked tirelessly in midfield but was chasing shadows for much of the game. His passing was tidy, but he offered little protection to his back four. He picked up a yellow card for a frustrated challenge. A difficult night trying to stem the Bavarian tide.

João Simões - 6.0: Similar to his midfield partner, he was industrious but ultimately outclassed. He maintained a high pass completion rate but was unable to influence the game in an attacking sense. He was largely anonymous as Bayern's midfield took complete control. A quiet game.

Forwards

Luis Suárez - 7.0: A thankless task leading the line on his own. Despite the lack of service, he was a real nuisance. He won an impressive nine duels and drew five fouls, buying his team some much-needed respite. He fought for every ball and held it up well when he could. From our perspective, he did everything he could in a very difficult situation.

Substitutes

Ricardo Mangas - 6.0: Came on but struggled to make an impact as Bayern dominated.

Georgios Vagiannidis - N/A: A late change with the game already lost.

Fotis Ioannidis - N/A: Introduced for the final ten minutes but had little to do.

Salvador Blopa - N/A: A stoppage-time substitute.

Hidemasa Morita - N/A: Another very late substitution.

Manager

R. Gomes Borges - 6.0: His team had a clear game plan to defend deep and hit on the counter. It almost worked to perfection, and he can be proud of their resilience for the first hour. However, once the first goal went in, his side had no answer to Bayern's quality. The substitutions couldn't change the flow of the game.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Serge Gnabry