Bayern Women held to 2-2 draw in Freiburg

FC Bayern Women were held to a 2-2 draw away at Freiburg in the opening game of the 2023/24 Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga on Friday night. Janina Minge put the hosts ahead after seven minutes before Lea Schüller levelled in front of 13,234 spectators at the Dreisamstadion. Alexander Straus’s team looked to have won it when Katharina Naschenweng struck in the 90th minute, but substitute Svenja Fölmli snatched a result seven minutes into added time.

Three changes and a comeback

Straus made three changes to the starting XI from the 2-0 win away at Andernach in the DFB Cup. Giulia Gwinn came in for Tuva Hansen at right-back to make her first Bundesliga appearances in almost a year after injury. Sydney Lohmann and Sarah Zadrazil started in midfield for summer signings Samantha Kerr and Jill Baijings, who were on the bench.

Even first half

The hosts made the better start and went ahead when Cora Zikai pinched the ball off captain Glodis Perla Viggosdottir. Her initial attempt came back off the post, but Minge was quickest to react and put away the rebound. However, Bayern didn’t let that knock them. Lohmann had the chance for an immediate response but fired over Julia Kassen’s goal. Schüller made no mistake on 21 minutes, though, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner after Freiburg failed to clear their lines. The rest of the half developed into an evenly matched affair with few clear-cut chances. Marie Müller came closest to a second for the home side with a shot from 25 yards hitting the post.

Two late goals

After the break, Bayern started to take control of the game and push to take the lead. However, Freiburg stood firm and restricted chances. Gwinn had an acrobatic effort following a corner but put it wide. FCB continued to pour forward in the closing stages. Schüller hit the post in the 90th minute, but Naschenweng was on hand to coolly put the rebound away. However, Freiburg had the final word when Fölmli struck with almost the last kick of the game.

Internationals then Köln at home

With two games played this season, the players now head off to join their national teams for the international break. Bayern are back in action on Monday, 2 October when they host Köln at the FC Bayern Campus at 19:30 CEST.