FC Bayern Women beaten by Lyon in quarter-final first leg

FC Bayern Women suffered a 2-0 first-leg defeat in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie at home to Lyon on Tuesday. Tabitha Chawinga put the visitors ahead on 36 minutes before Melchie Dumornay doubled the advantage in the second half. Mala Grohs had earlier saved a penalty from Lindsey Heaps just before half-time.

Five changes

Alexander Straus made five changes to the team that started Friday’s 3-1 win over Wolfsburg. Grohs made her return in goal, while Tuva Hansen and Linda Sembrant came into defence for Carolin Simon and Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir. Arianna Caruso replaced Sydney Lohmann in midfield for her full Bayern debut, with Linda Dallmann in for Alara Şehitler.

Bayern wore black armbands following the passings of former Germany international Foris Fitschen and ex-club president Fritz Scherer.

Lyon lead, Grohs saves penalty

Bayern began on the front foot and created the first chance when Pernille Harder forced her way to the by-line, but her cutback was intercepted at the last second by Wendie Renard. Chawinga offered the first threat at the other end with a shot that went over. The Munich Frauen had further efforts through Caruso, Sarah Zadrazil and Klara Bühl without success.

The game evened out after that with no clear-cut chances until Chawinga won the ball off Sembrant and fired past Grohs. Things threatened to get worse for Bayern before half-time when Zadrazil was penalised for a challenge on Ellie Carpenter in the box that was deemed a penalty following a VAR review, but Grohs was on hand to repel Heaps’ spot-kick with one of the last kicks of the half.

Lyon double up

The hosts had the chance to level straight after the restart when Harder countered and set up Bühl, whose shot could only find the side netting. Bayern kept at it and nearly found a way through in style when Magdelena Eriksson pulled out an overhead kick following a corner, but her shot went straight into the arms of Christiane Endler.

Lyon were happy to lie in wait to counter and nearly had a second if not for Grohs denying Kadidiatou Diani one-on-one. The French side were on the front foot now but found no way past the Bayern keeper. That was until Dumornay played the ball on to Heaps, who laid it back off to the forward to pick out the corner of the goal from a central position and put Lyon 2-0 up in the tie despite a late spell of Bayern pressure.

Cup semi and second leg

Bayern are quickly back in action as they host Hoffenheim in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup on Saturday (kick-off at 2pm CET). They then head to France the following Wednesday for the second leg of this quarter-final (6.45pm).