Bayern Munich's Lennart Karl becomes youngest player to score in three consecutive UEFA Champions League matches
Bayern Munich's sensational 17-year-old attacking midfielder Lennart Karl continued his habit of putting the ball in the back of the net in Europe by scoring in a 3-1 win against Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Champions League to set a new best in the competition and increase calls for him to play for Germany at next summer's FIFA World Cup.
Karl netted within five minutes against the Portuguese outfit, but that first strike was disallowed for offside. With Bayern 1-0 down early in the second half, the young attacking midfielder was at the centre of their swift comeback.
Minutes after Serge Gnabry had levelled, Karl controlled a cross from Konrad Laimer mid-flight and finished on the bounce with the panache Bundesliga followers have become accustomed to seeing from the 17-year-old. Following strikes against Club Brugge and Arsenal, Karl became the the youngest man to ever net in three consecutive Champions League appearances.
Watch: The best of Lennart Karl
A deserved UEFA Player of the Match honour made Karl the hot post-match topic. Coach Vincent Kompany said after Bayern had gained their fifth Champions League win out of six: "Lenny is always dangerous. To be completely honest, he's had better games, but four or five times he's always there when he needs to be. He gets his moments, and then he just kills."
He added: "He can head the ball, and he can shoot with both his left and right foot, and he has that feel that you can't teach a coach; you can only support him where you can."
Board member for sport Max Eberl said: "He has that special something. He plays an extremely important role for us."
Karl struck a grounded tone despite his latest success, saying: "I'm just very happy right now. I’m working really hard on my performances, on my body and making sure I’m fit every week. I’m learning so much with Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich and everyone around me. It allows me to show my football. They play passes to me, I play passes back – they’re great team-mates and that makes it a lot of fun."
Karl made his Germany U21 debut in November, but has inevitably been linked with the full national team ahead of next summer's World Cup. Germany captain Kimmich said after the win against Sporting: "I assume that Lenny will continue to get playing time with us. Currently, he's broken into the starting XI, and every regular starter at Bayern – especially now, with the way we're playing – also belongs in the national team."
The rising star will have a chance to add to his two Bundesliga goals when Bayern host Mainz on Matchday 14 this Sunday (kick-off: 5.30pm CET).
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