Still on course for the title: FCB Women extend winning streak and lead

• Run extended
• Harder bags a brace
• Bayern extend lead

FC Bayern Women have impressively extended their winning streak and consolidated their lead at the top of the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga! Coach José Barcala’s side cruised to a 5-0 (2-0) win at Essen on Friday evening. Pernille Harder (4’) put the Munich side ahead early on, before Linda Dallmann (9’) made it 2-0 in the opening stages. After the break, Harder made sure of victory with a penalty (68’), whilst substitutes Natalia Padilla Bidas (71’) and Edna Imade (88’) further extended the lead. A thoroughly commanding performance from Bayern Women!

Barcala: “We didn’t allow any counter-attacks and kept a clean sheet”

José Barcala: “We got off to a good start with that early goal, and the red card naturally changed the momentum. It wasn’t easy at first to find the spaces against a very compact 5-4-1 formation. In the second half, we had better structure, better spatial organisation and more of a presence between the lines. We linked up better as a team, were able to play more aggressively and create more chances. I’m particularly pleased that we didn’t allow any counter-attacks and kept a clean sheet.”

Dallmann: “On the whole, we can be happy with that”

Linda Dallmann: “Just like in the last few games, I think there were periods when we played well and others where there was still room for improvement. But to score five goals away against Essen at this stage of the season – I think that, on the whole, we can be happy with that. The red card, especially, almost made things even tougher for us.”

Early lead and a very dominant performance

Bayern Women took control from the outset and set themselves on course for victory early on. Harder opened the scoring in the 4th minute following a cross from Gwinn. Shortly afterwards, Essen were reduced to ten players, when Meißner was shown the red card for a professional foul (8'). Just a minute later, Dallmann headed home from the resulting free-kick to double the lead. The Munich side used their numerical advantage to control the game with plenty of possession and kept Essen pinned down deep in their own half. The hosts defended tightly but were unable to relieve the pressure. Dallmann had a few more chances before the Bavarians eased off slightly towards the end of the half. The teams went into the break with Bayern comfortably leading 2-0.

Commanding second half

Bayern Women stayed firmly in control after the break too and didn’t give their opponents a moment’s respite. They put Essen under pressure early on with some aggressive pressing and created further chances, including through Dallmann. Harder made it 3-0 from the penalty spot in the 68th minute, before substitute Padilla Bidas scored to make it 4-0 following an impressive ball recovery by Amani and an assist from Simon. The Munich side continued to link up confidently and were in complete control of the game at all times. Imade came off the bench to seal the win with a fifth goal just before the final whistle. It was a thoroughly dominant display from Bayern throughout the entire second half.

In Manchester and against Nürnberg

On Wednesday 25 March, the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United takes place, before the reigning double winners return to action in the Women’s Bundesliga on Saturday 28 March. Kick-off for the match against 1. FC Nürnberg at the Campus is at 14.00 CEST.