The Football Faithful
·9 December 2025
Bayern Munich vs Sporting – Match preview and team news

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Yahoo sportsThe Football Faithful
·9 December 2025

Bayern Munich welcome Sporting Lisbon to the Allianz Arena in the Champions League tonight.
It’s a clash between the champions of Germany and Portugal, with both currently positioned in the top eight of the league phase standings.
Vincent Kompany will again be without the services of Luis Diaz who misses the clash through suspension. The Colombian will complete the ban he received for a red card against Paris Saint-Germain last month, after the initial three-match punishment was reduced to two games. Teenager Lennart Karl is expected to receive another opportunity in his absence.
Elsewhere, Bayern remain without long-term absentees Alphonso Davies (knee) and Jamal Musiala (frectured fibula). Both, however, are back in training and nearing returns, though the club will understandably take a patient approach. Kompany has backed the returning Musiala for a huge 2026, as the midfielder searches for success with Bayern and Germany.
The Primeira Liga side received a boost when forward Fotis Ioannidis returned from injury during Friday’s draw with Lisbon rivals Benfica. The Greek forward has netted four times in 13 appearances since his summer arrival from Panathanaikos.
In terms of absentees, Zeno Debast and Daniel Braganca both remain out with long-term knee injuries.
The German giants sit third in the Champions League standings after their perfect record in the competition was ended at Arsenal last time out. That defeat in North London represents Bayern’s only reverse of the campaign to date. Bayern have opened up an eight-point lead in the Bundesliga after winning 12 of their first 13 games, including a 5-0 thrashing of Stuttgart at the weekend. Harry Kane came off the bench to score a hat-trick and extend his record to 28 goals in 22 games this season.
Sporting trail leaders Porto by five points domestically, following a 1-1 draw with Benfica in the Lisbon derby last weekend.
In Europe, Sporting have impressed, taking 10 points from their first five Champions League games. Their three wins have all come in Portugal, however, with Sporting yet to win on the road in the Champions League this season.
The trip to Bayern begins a tricky conclusion to the league phase, with PSG’s visit next up.
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Karl, Gnabry; Kane.
Sporting Lisbon: Silva; Araujo, Inacio, Diomande, Fresneda; Simoes, Hjulmand; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez.
The UEFA Champions League League Phase clash will be shown on TNT Sports 3 in the United Kingdom.









































