FC Bayern Women beat Hoffenheim in Bundesliga resumption

FC Bayern Women claimed a 1-0 win at home to Hoffenheim on Saturday in the Google Pixel Bundesliga. Klara Bühl scored the only goal with a free-kick as FCB moved onto 27 points and top of the table at least until Monday, when Wolfsburg host Essen. The She-Wolves are currently two points back in second on 25, with Eintracht Frankfurt in third with 22 before they take on Köln on Sunday.

Two changes

Head coach Alexander Straus made two changes to his team from Wednesday’s 2-2 draw away at Roma in the Champions League. New signing Linda Sembrant made her debut in place of Tuva Hansen in central defence, while Sydney Lohman replaced Linda Dallmann in midfield. Die Frauen remained without long-term absentees Carolin Simon (cruciate ligament), Weronika Zawistowska (cruciate ligament), Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir (kneecap), Magdalena Eriksson (metatarsal) and Ana Maria Guzman (knee). Tainara was out due to illness.

Bühl’s lovely free-kick

Bayern kicked off their first Bundesliga game of 2024 on the front foot. Lea Schüller saw a header from a Giulia Gwinn corner saved by goalkeeper Martina Tufekovic. The following moments belonged to the visitors with a string of corners, but momentum swung back towards the Munich ladies. Chances were at a premium until the 22nd minute when Pernille Harder was fouled by Mara Alber. Bühl stepped up to take the free-kick and picked out the bottom right corner from 20 yards.

Schüller had a good chance to double the advantage after the half-hour mark after Georgia Stanway’s original shot was blocked by a defender, but the Bayern striker put her attempt against the crossbar. Mala Grohs was called into action for the first time to coolly collect a header from Franziska Harsch. She later turned a miscued cross over her bar.

No goals in second half

Bayern came close immediately after the restart as Bühl almost found Harder free in the middle. Marta Cazalla Garcia slid in the way of the cross and turned the ball towards her own goal, forcing the Hoffenheim goalkeeper to react quickly to prevent an own goal. An effort from Lohmann came back off the crossbar before TSG found their groove. Grohs had to make two saves in quick succession in the 50th and 51st minute. At the other end moments later, Schüller thought she had made it 2-0 but the goal was ruled out for offside. Bühl then put an effort wide of the right post.

The game turned into an end-to-end affair as both sides looked to attack. Schüller again had the opportunity to get a second when found by Stanway but fired over. Bayern continued pushing but to no avail. A cross from Jill Baijings picked out Lohmann, who put it over the bar. Substitute Jovana Damnjanovic then fired a shot of her own over the top.

PSG followed by Freiburg

Bayern’s next game is their crucial final group game of the UEFA Women’s Champions League at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, 30 January (21:00 CET). FCB then welcome Freiburg to the Campus on Monday, 5 February (19:30) as the second half of the Bundesliga campaign resumes with Matchday 12.