Bayern Munich vs Barcelona LIVE: Champions League result and final score as Lewandowski frustrated on return
Robert Lewandowski could have had a hat-trick on a different night as his old club as Bayern Munich defeated Barcelona in the Champions League
Robert Lewandowski’s return to Bayern Munich ended in frustration as the striker missed several opportunities in a 2-0 defeat for Barcelona in the Champions League.
Lewandowski could not have asked for better chances to fall in the first half of his return and should have opened the scoring with a volley from in front of the posts.
Raphinha also sent two shots wide as Barcelona continued to rack up the attempts on the Bayern goal, but after withstanding the pressure it was the hosts who took the lead through a Hernandez header from a Joshua Kimmich free-kick.
Sane then doubled Bayern’s lead moments later thanks to a sublime run and finish past Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Pedri clipped the post for Barcelona but Xavi’s side could not find a goal as they tasted defeat for the first time since season.
Bayern vs Barcelona
In his last fixture Robert Lewandowski became the first player to score a Champions League hat-trick for three different teams (one for Borussia Dortmund, four for Bayern, one for Barcelona).
Bayern Munich and Barcelona are clubs of contrast but both face stark questions over future
The sight of Robert Lewandowski in a Barcelona jersey is going to irritate a few watching down from the Bayern Munich executive box on Wednesday, but not because he wanted to leave the Allianz. The German champions happily accepted the striker’s desire for a new challenge, but weren’t quite so keen on the manner Barcelona had done business this summer. It was one reason the transfer was so protracted. Bayern wanted the entirety of the €50m up front. They got it, but there remains a residual feeling that the way the Bundesliga club do things is better for the general health of the game. Barca, it could be perceived, have been responsible for an approach that breeds chaos and inflates the entire market.
It has still had short-term effect, which was part of the point. Barca go into this unusually important group game on the back of five straight wins, with the side having seemingly clicked under Xavi Hernandez. Bayern have meanwhile had their worst start to a domestic season in 11 years, after three straight draws.
It’s quite a turnaround from the short-term history of this fixture, and how many times Bayern have humbled the Catalan side. They have almost served to show how far Barca are off the top. Barca now consider themselves back there, through one ostentatious summer. Bayern look there for the taking.
Bayern and Barca are clubs of contrast but both face stark questions over future
Bayern vs Barcelona
There’ll be reaction from Portugal to come as it’ll be fascinating to see what Antonio Conte makes of that ending but the focus moves over to Germany now as Bayern Munich are preparing to host Barcelona.
This is a clash of European heavyweights with Bayern having to defend against their old frontman Robert Lewandowski.
Full-time: Sporting 2-0 Tottenham
90+4 mins: Tottenham suffer their first defeat of the season and Sporting left it late to win the game. Two added time goals put them firmly at the top of Group D with Spurs left wondering how they’ve lost that game.
What a fabulous ending to an interesting if unspectacular contest.
GOAL! Sporting 2-0 Tottenham (Arthur Gomes, 90+3’)⚽️
90+3 mins: Late magic from Sporting and they secure the points! Arthur Gomes has just come on the pitch but he receives the ball out on the left wing and dribbles around Emerson Royal to get into the box.
He opens up the far corner and slots it past Hugo Lloris.
GOAL! Sporting 1-0 Tottenham (Paulinho, 90’)⚽️
90 mins: I was wrong! Huge goal for Sporting CP who have surely won the game now. Hugo Lloris palms Pedro Porro shot wide of goal but from the resulting corner Paulinho rises at the near post and glances a header into the far corner of the net.
Sporting 0-0 Tottenham
87 mins: Emerson Royal and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have been gone into the book for rash challenges. Spurs are just lossing a bit of their composure as this game winds to its conclusion.
Neither team deserves to lose and I don’t think either will. It’ll end goalless.
Sporting 0-0 Tottenham
84 mins: Sporting win a free kick inside Spurs’ half and have the opportunity to get the ball into the box. The home fans are doing their best to spur their team on as Pedro Porro swings the ball into the middle.
Hugo Lloris comes out confidently, yells for the ball and plucks it out of the air.
Sporting 0-0 Tottenham
81 mins: Pedro Porro whips a cross into the middle from the right wing and sends it straight into the hands of Hugo Lloris. There’s still time for one of these teams to score a winner although a draw away from home wouldn’t be the worst result for Antonio Conte’s men.
Sporting 0-0 Tottenham
78 mins: Kulusevski is getting things to happen for Spurs. He’s been unafraid to take players on and bombs past Goncalves on the right sid ebut cutting into the box.
He wants to slide a pass to Emerson Royal who goes down in the area under a challenge hoping for a penalty. The referee blows his whistle but it’s for an offside against the Tottenham man.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments