16th win in a row – Victorious FCB Women extend lead in Cologne

FC Bayern Women extended their lead at the top of the table and their winning run with a comfortable 3-0 victory at 1. FC Köln on Sunday evening. Pernille Harder put the defending double winners in front with a quickfire double, and Linda Dallmann made it 3-0 shortly before half-time at the Franz-Kremer-Stadion. 

With their 16th consecutive win in the league, the holders have at least briefly increased their cushion at the top of the standings to an impressive 17 points. Closest rivals VfL Wolfsburg are playing later on Sunday and have another game in hand, though.

Barcala: ‘Pleased about the win’

“We knew we faced one of the most aggressive and best pressing sides in the league here,” assessed Barcala afterwarsd. “They demonstrated that today and made it hard for us in that way. We’re a team who look to dominate the game and play out from the back, which wasn’t always that easy today. But especially in the first half, we were clinical with our chances and were already out of sight at 3-0 before half-time. We then laboured a bit in the second half, which I’m not so happy about. But I’m pleased about the win.”

Dominant first half

José Barcala’s side dictated proceedings from the start and moved the ball and their opponents around well, but initially struggled to break down the compact hosts. It wasn’t until the 21st minute that Harder scored from Georgia Stanway’s pass to make it 1-0 from the first real moment of danger. And the Dane followed it up with the second just eight minutes later, Dallmann providing the assist this time. Soon after that, Dallmann danced through the entire penalty box herself but her finish didn’t hit the target. The German international was more accurate in the 38th minute, when she slotted in from Arianna Caruso’s through ball to leave the score 3-0 at half-time.

Never in danger

It was a similar picture in the second half, even if Bayern did ease off somewhat. In the 62nd minute, Harder and Dallmann were both denied more goals by some good goalkeeping from Irina Fuchs at close range. The Munich girls comfortably saw out the rest of the game to claim a fully deserved 3-0 success. There was also reason to celebrate for Laila Portella, who followed up her professional debut in the DFB Cup in midweek with her Bundesliga debut in the closing stages.

From Essen to Manchester

Before the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at Manchester United on Wednesday 25 March, the double winners go to SGS Essen in the Women’s Bundesliga this Friday, 20 March. Kick-off is at 18:30 CET.