Can FC Bayern Women maintain home record against Essen?

FC Bayern Women are back in action following the October international break as they host Essen at the FC Bayern Campus on Saturday for Matchday 8 of the Google Pixel Bundesliga season. Kick-off is at 14:00 CET. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our preview.

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Bayern went into the break on a high as three victories in a week over Wolfsburg (3-1), Juventus (2-1) and Köln (5-1) got José Barcala’s side back in the groove. Those 10 goals were spread across eight different scorers, while two substitutes (Momoko Tanikawa and Pernille Harder) also netted against Köln, meaning the Reds have got a joint-league-leading seven goals off the bench (alongside Freiburg). Those recent results have allowed the defending champions to open up a three-point lead at the top of the table over Wolfsburg coming into Matchday 8.

Katharina Naschenweng and Bayern lead the Bundesliga ahead of hosting Essen. | © FC Bayern

Opponents: Essen

Essen’s season has been somewhat the opposite, sitting bottom of the standings with only a single point from seven games. They have also scored just two goals while conceding 20, giving them both the worst attack and defence in the division. The Ruhr side are also at risk of equalling their 13-year-old unwanted club record of six straight defeats.

October brought losses to Wolfsburg (8-0), RB Leipzig (2-1) and Hoffenheim (1-0). The former spelled the end for both the coach and sporting director, with Jessica Wissmann overseeing things on an interim basis since then.

The head-to-head record is also very much in Bayern’s favour. FCB have hosted Essen 25 times in the Bundesliga and are yet to be beaten. There’s no other team the Munich Frauen have hosted as often in the top flight while never losing.

🔍 Get the lowdown on Essen:

Bundesliga opponent

Essen: The last bastion of women’s football

Team news

Barbara Dunst (recovery from cruciate ligament), Sarah Zadrazil (cruciate ligament) and Lena Oberdorf (cruciate ligament) are all out for the long term. Vanessa Gilles (muscular) and Carolin Simon (hamstring) are also still sidelined. Goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic (ankle), Arianna Caruso (shoulder) and Tuva Hansen (ankle) are also out of this game.

José Barcala is looking for another win at home as Essen come to Munich. | © FC Bayern

Pre-match quotes

José Barcala: “The first games after an international break are never easy, so we need to be focused and concentrate from the start to keep the three points in Munich. With Essen we’re expecting an opponent that will throw all they’ve got at us. They’ve improved of late, are more compact and press very high at times. So, we need to play with intensity, aggression, be alert and play our game from the start.”

Linda Dallmann: “The game against Essen is obviously special for me. I look back fondly on my time there. Even though Essen have had a tough start to the season, they’ll do all they can to make life as tough as possible for us. It’s important after the international break that we build on our performances and start the coming period well.”

Tickets are still available as Bayern host Arsenal at the Allianz Arena on 12 November: