BERLIN, Sept. 20 -- Renato Sanches is yet to reach the final destination on the long journey lying ahead of him. But the 21-year-old Portuguese made a big step by scoring the second goal in Bayern Munich's 2-0 away win against Benfica in the opening game of their Champions League campaign.

After a disappointing start in 2016, when Sanches joined the Bavarian side for 35 million Euros, he seemed to have lost the battle to establish himself as a regular. Though he arrived in Munich as a member of the Portuguese team that won Euro 2016 and had the reputation of being a quality young player, Sanches could never assert himself at the club.

The Portuguese, who had to leave behind his familiar environment at the age of just 18, seemed lost in the new and unknown world he had entered. "Just consider what he has been through. A new language and a new culture far away from what he was used to. We shouldn't just see him as a footballer obligated to work but as a human," Bayern coach Niko Kovac commented.

Initially, Sanches seemed unable to adapt to his new environment. Seen as a failure, he went out on loan to Swansea City in the Premier League but his time there was not a success. For the most part, his place was on the bench and as a substitute to fill the gaps.

Now Bayern's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says Sanches is being given a second and final chance to make it in Munich. This season will decide his future at the Bundesliga champions and possibly his entire career in professional football.

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