Bayern Munich could take a huge leap in securing a top-eight finish in the Champions League league phase on Tuesday evening when they host Portuguese side Sporting CP.
There’s plenty of team news for both sides heading into this one, both positive and negative. Here is your preview for Bayern Munich vs Sporting CP in the Champions League.
Bayern Munich
Coming off the back of a 5-0 win against Stuttgart last weekend, Bayern have seemingly put their defeat to Arsenal behind them. They head into this one in great form and unbeaten in their last 36 home matches in the competition – 34 wins and two draws.
What’s more, Bayern are unbeaten in their last 13 home matches against Portuguese teams, winning 11 and drawing twice.
Bayern can head to the top of the table should results go their way elsewhere. However, this really isn’t the big focus for Bayern. A win would put them five points clear of Sporting, who themselves are in 8th position.
A win on Tuesday would set them up nicely to confirm automatic qualification should they beat Belgian side Union SG in the next matchday.
Sporting CP
Sporting have a solid campaign in the Champions League so far, winning three, drawing, and losing just once. Domestically, the Lisbon-based side are sitting in second place, five points behind leaders Porto.
Regardless, this will be a big test for Sporting, who haven’t played a team inside the top eight in the competition thus far. In fact, all the teams they’ve played so far are currently 20th place or below.
Team News
Bayern Munich
Having missed the game against Stuttgart, Manuel Neuer is expected to return between the sticks on Tuesday evening, Vincent Kompany confirmed. Additionally, Bayern fans will be pleased to see Alphonso Davies back in the matchday squad following a long-term injury. Whether the Canadian international will play a part is doubtful. However, it’s another great asset to have back in the setup up looking ahead to the rückrunde (second half of the season).
Elsewhere, Bayern are pretty much at full strength. Should Lennart Karl score against Sporting, he will become the youngest ever player to score in three consecutive matches in the Champions League at 17 years and 290 days.
Meanwhile, Harry Kane will lead the line, having been rested from the start against Stuttgart. Having said that, Kane still managed to score three goals in the 22-minute cameo against their opponents last weekend. Since joining Bayern, no one has scored as often in the Champions League as him – only Kylian Mbappe can match his 24 goals.
Sporting CP
Sporting will be without some key players going into this tie. Francisco Trincão, Geovany Quenda, and Pedro Gonçalves are all struggling with injuries and did not make the trip to Germany.
Despite the absences, head coach Rui Borges is still going to Munich with three points in his mind:
“I want to win, I always want to win, and I’ll do everything to win.”
Given Bayern’s outstanding record at home and Sporting’s personal issues, it’s a game that the Bundesliga side will be expecting to win, and with it, all but secure their place in the automatic qualification places.
GGFN | Jamie Allen
