PREVIEW: Bayern Munich look to return to winning ways in Europe against Sporting CP | OneFootball

Following defeat against Arsenal in their last Champions League game, Bayern Munich will set their sights on a return to winning ways on the continent as they host Sporting CP at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday evening.

When Bayern and the Gunners met in the last round of Champions League fixtures, it was billed as the two best teams in Europe going head to head. However, the English side ran out convincing winners, beating the German champions 3-1 and leaving Vincent Kompany scratching his head.

The loss saw Bayern relinquish top spot to Arsenal, and they now sit in third place with only two points separating them and 10th placed Atalanta. Despite that blemish at the Emirates, Bayern Munich have been fantastic under Kompany this season, winning 20 of their 22 games since the start of the season in all competitions whilst only losing one game in that period. Their goalscoring has been one a different level as well, with the German champions scoring 11 times in their previous three matches.

The Bavarian side put five past Stuttgart at the weekend with goals from Konrad Laimer and Josip Stanišić complimenting another Kane hat-trick. The Englishman has been in almost untouchable form for Die Roten, where he has scored 17 goals and registered three assists in his 13 Bundesliga matches so far this season.

With Kane in fine form, Bayern could reclaim top spot within the group should they defeat Sporting on Tuesday, so long as other results go their way. But, even if mounting the summit isn’t possible, Bayern could still all but confirm their place in the next round of the Champions League. Given their dominance against Portuguese sides (P15, W13, D2 L0) Bayern should head into the game with quiet confidence of getting a result.

Sporting CP may not be able to defy the odds on Tuesday night but Rui Borges’ side have been in equally impressive form as their hosts domestically. With it now being 12 matches undefeated across all competition including nine victories, Sporting have rode the loss of their star striker Viktor Gyökeres and manager Ruben Amorim with vigour and find themselves behind only runaway leaders Porto in Liga Portugal.

They’ve have done well in Europe too, sitting just two points off Bayern in the table and on the same points as Chelsea and Manchester City (10), Sporting will be looking to pick up where they left off following a comfortable 3-0 victory over Club Brugge where goals from Geovany Quenda, Luis Suárez and Francisco Trincão made it a comfortable night for the Portuguese side.

Winger Luis Díaz is still serving his suspension following a red card in Bayern’s clash against PSG despite the Colombian’s ban being reduced. Other absentees for Bayern include full back Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala who are both still recovering from a knee and calf injury respectively.

Sporting Lisbon will be without Zeno Debast and Daniel Bragança as both players continue their recoveries following knee injuries, while Nuno Santos is expected to remain side-lined for the matchup against Bayern.

The game kicks off at 17:45 GMT and will be televised on TNT Sports and Discovery+ in the UK.

Predicted line-ups

BAY: Neuer; Laimer, Upamencano, Tah, Stanišić; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Karl, Gnabry; Kane

SPO: Silva; Araújo, Inácio, Diomande, Fresneda; Simões, Hjulmand; Catamo, Trincão, Gonçalves; Suárez