FC Bayern Women claim commanding win over Bremen

FC Bayern Women beat Werder Bremen 3-0 at home in the Google Pixel Bundesliga on Monday evening. Their ninth victory in a row takes Alexander Straus’s team onto 51 points, seven clear of Wolfsburg, meaning another win in their next game on Saturday, 4 May away at Bayer Leverkusen will see Die Frauen retain their title.

After a goalless first half, Magdalena Eriksson put Bayern ahead in this Matchday 19 encounter. Jovana Damnjanovic and Georgia Stanway then extended the advantage with brilliant efforts from the halfway line, either side of Maria Luisa Grohs saving a penalty to keep her clean sheet.

Hansen and Damnjanovic into the side

Straus made two changes to his team from last weekend’s 5-1 win in Duisburg. Tuva Hansen started in place of Linda Sembrant in central defence, while Damnjanovic took Linda Dallmann’s position in attacking midfield. Bayern were still without Katharina Naschenweng (knee), Franziska Kett (muscular), Weronika Zawistowska (cruciate ligament), Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir (kneecap), Ana Maria Guzman (knee), Tainara and Alara Sehitler (both ill). Carolin Simon was not yet fit after returning to training following her ACL injury.

Goalless first half

The hosts started well and had the first big chance after five minutes through Lea Schüller. Damnjanovic won the ball inside the Werder half and sent the Germany international through, but she was unable to beat goalkeeper Livia Peng. The Munich ladies continued to dominant, but chances remained at a premium. Captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir had a header from a Klara Bühl corner shortly before the break, but the Bremen defence were able to clear in the end. A follow-up from Pernille Harder also failed to break the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes.

Commanding second half

Bayern then got off to the perfect start following the resumption when Eriksson headed in Bühl’s corner after three minutes. Not long after, Damnjanovic doubled the advantage as she lobbed Peng from just inside the Bremen half. Straus’s side were in control at this stage but presented the visitors a route back into the game when Stanway committed a foul in the box. However, Grohs – the penalty hero against Eintracht Frankfurt the other week – made another stop from the spot against Sophie Weidauer. Harder hit the outside of the post in the closing stages before Stanway added the third with an almost carbon copy of Damnjanovic’s lob from halfway.

Leverkusen and cup final

Bayern now have the week off before returning to action on 4 May for their trip to Leverkusen. Kick-off is at 12pm CEST. Five days after that, on Thursday 9 May, they are in Cologne for the DFB Cup final against Wolfsburg at the RheinEnergieStadion (4pm).