FCB Women celebrate home win against Leverkusen in front of record crowd at Allianz Arena

What a magnificent afternoon for FC Bayern Women! The Munich girls won 2-0 against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena on Saturday in the official opening match of the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season. In front of a record attendance in German women’s football of 57,762 – including FCB president Herbert Hainer, CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and honorary president Uli Hoeneß – Bayern were rewarded for a commanding performance with the opening three points. A quickfire double from Vanessa Gilles (76’) and Klara Bühl (77’) in the space of just one minute earned a deserved 2-0 success.

Hard-fought contest

It was a hard-fought and intense game right from kick-off, with neither side giving anything away in front of the impressive crowd. The hosts had a double chance in only the second minute, but Lea Schüller’s first effort was blocked and then the second hit the side netting. After that, Bayern struggled to find openings against the resolute Werkself, who themselves had a dangerous situation in the box in the 20th minute. From a left-wing cross, Ena Mahmutovic made three saves againt Ruby Grant and Vanessa Fudalla. With FCB lacking the necessary penetration going forward, the first half ended goalless.

Gilles and Bühl reward Bayern dominance

Although Leverkusen had the first attempt of the second period through a volley from Kristin Kögel, Bayern were now clearly the dominant team, pinning their opponents back deep in their own half for spells and creating opportunities. Gilles headed just wide on the hour mark, Franziska Kett was denied by Bayer 04 goalkeeper Friederike Repohl four minutes later, and then a header by Jovana Damnjanović landed on the crossbar shortly after. The visitors did remain a threat, though, and did find the net in the 66th minute, but Juliette Vidal’s strike was disallowed for a handball. The Bavarians were then rewarded for their improved second-half display in the 76th minute, when Gilles headed home from Bühl’s corner. And just a minute later, they followed that up with the second goal. Damnjanović found Bühl with a sumptuous delivery at the far post, where the German international made it 2-0 with a volleyed finish. That was how it stayed until the final whistle.

Visit to the Red Bull Arena followed by two home games

After the highlight at the Allianz Arena, another encounter at a big stadium awaits the German champions as they travel to the Red Bull Arena to take on RB Leipzig on Sunday 14 September (kick-off 14:00 CEST). That’s followed by two successive home matches at the FC Bayern Campus for the Munich girls, who host FC Carl Zeiss Jena on Saturday 20 September and then SC Freiburg on Tuesday 23 September.