This is the one we’ve been waiting for.
Bayern Munich takes on defending reigning UEFA Women’s Champions League winner Arsenal in a hotly-anticipated showdown at the Allianz Arena.
The Bavarians are enjoying a six-point cushion at the top of the Frauen-Bundesliga and coming off a string of impressive domestic victories — 4-0 over Union Berlin, 6-0 over Nürnberg, 4-1 over SGS Essen, 5-1 over Köln. And before that was a 2-1 UWCL win over Juventus.
Arsenal sits fourth in the Women’s Super League.
Both teams are 1-0-1 in the UWCL so far this year. Arsenal lost 2-1 to Lyon at home in October while Bayern were blown away by Barcelona, 7-1, on the same day, in Spain. That was then. This is now.
Prediction: Bayern wins 3-2. Too much is riding on this and the ladies are in fantastic form. It won’t be easy but they have been saving up and the humiliation from Barça is going to be motivation to be at their very best.
Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
TV/streaming: Paramount+ (US), Find Your Country
82’ — Arsenal change with Smith on for Mead.
80’ — BAYERN SCORE AGAIN!!!! 2-2
Bühl again flying down the left flank! Cuts it inside, squares it for Harder, and the Danish international fires from range. Top corner, keeper rooted to the spot!
75’ — Arsenal substitution; Hines and Cooney-Cross on, Pelova and McCabe off. Gunners searching for a change of energy to lock this game down. Bayern looking dangerous every time they get on the ball.
67’ — BAYERN GOAL!!!! 1-2 Arsenal
Lethal on the counter! Tanikawa slips in Klara Bühl behind the Arsenal line and it’s Alara running free centrally all alone for Bühl to find. She does, and Alara takes a touch before finishing one-on-one against the Arsenal keeper.
61’ — Bayern with another change already. It’s a double substitution. Caruso comes on in the midfield for Dallmann; Schüller makes way for Alara.
It’s still a back and forth. Good energy from the Bavarians in this half, no goal to show for it yet.
59’ — Arsenal subs coming. Blackstenius, Foord come off. It’s Kelly and Maanum on.
56’ — Bayern substitution. Pernille Harder comes on for Jovana Damnjanović.
53’ — Arsenal chance! Russo hits it from range and Mala Grohs saves comfortably. It’s Arsenal’s first phase of initiative this half as Bayern has come out physical and full of energy.
Bayern on the ball in Arsenal’s half but the whistle blows for halftime before a single second of stoppage elapses. They’ve only themselves to blame for the deficit, however, and are probably fortunate it isn’t worse. At only two-nil down and having shown sparks occasionally in attack, this one is far from over. However, head coach José Barcala needs to have an alternate plan to building risky out the back, because the Gunners have been all over Bayern all half long.
26’ — Arsenal chance. McCabe whips it in and Blackstenius has a great look from close range but touches it wide. It wouldn’t have been easy to get it on target. Still it is looking like it could get ugly for the Bavarians.
24’ — Bayern 0 – 2 Arsenal
Well, this is grim. Bayern try to play out and fail again spectacularly to get out of their own box. Caldentey shifts her feet and fires from just beyond the edge of the box.
22’ — Arsenal hit the crossbar! Blackstenius just beats her mark to hit it from near point-blank range. It’s got Grohs beat but not the bar.
20’ — Bayern chance! Klara Bühl marauds down the left wing and slices a dangerous cross centrally for Lea Schüller to run onto. It’s a fantastic position and the shot is on target, but straight at the Arsenal keeper.
12’ — Bayern getting in trouble playing out the back, losing the ball to the Arsenal press and nearly conceding a second. As it stands it’s a corner.
5’ — Bayern 0 – 1 Arsenal
Gunners strike! Bayern don’t deal with the Arsenal attack well, allowing a fierce shot from the right edge of the box which Mala Grohs palms away. It’s only as far as Emily Fox, who heads it back towards goal and Grohs can’t get up fast enough to keep it out.
Grohs; Gwinn – Ballisager – Viggósdóttir – Kett; Tanikawa – Stanway; Schüller – Damnjanović – Dallmann – Bühl
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