Impressive FCB Women celebrate 20th consecutive Bundesliga win in Bremen

• 22nd Bundesliga win of the season in rearranged match at Werder
• Padilla Bidas & Harder fire Bayern to victory
• Viggósdóttir makes 100th Bundesliga appearance
• UWCL second leg in Barcelona on Sunday afternoon

FC Bayern Women enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 win in their rearranged match away to SV Werder Bremen on Wednesday evening. After a goalless first 45 minutes, a goal from Natalia Padilla Bidas (60th minute) and a penalty from Pernille Harder (67’) ensured a 20th consecutive Bundesliga win for José Barcala’s side.

There were other causes for celebration in Bremen, too. Captain Glodis Perla Viggósdóttir made her 100th Bundesliga appearance, Marie Gmeineder made her Bundesliga debut, while Luzie Zähringer and Laila Portella were included in the starting line-up for the first time.

Barcala: ‘Especially pleased with our young players’

“In the first half, we lacked fluency and couldn’t find the rhythm we wanted. In the second half, we adjusted our positioning and understood the game much better, which gave us more control. I’m especially pleased with the contribution of our young players, Marie, Laila and Luzie, who really stepped up. Defensively, the team was very solid; we didn’t concede any chances and kept a clean sheet, which is always important.”

Close-fought first half

The champions made the better start and controlled the early stages. Portella had the first big chance on nine minutes but her effort from a tight angle was saved at the near post by Bremen goalkeeper Marielle El Sherif. 

The main threat came from set pieces in the first half, but the Bremen defence dealt with Caro Simon’s free kick (27’). Eight minutes before half-time, the hosts had their first real chance when Larissa Mühlhaus was presented with a shot in the penalty area, but Mala Grohs made a strong save from the German international’s attempt to keep it at 0-0 going into the interval.

Padilla Bidas & Harder find the net

Bayern came out with more intent at the start of the second half and regularly tried to get forward down the wings, but the end product was lacking. In the 51st minute, Zähringer narrowly missed the target with a long-range effort. The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark, when Simon lofted the ball into the penalty area. Substitute Harder flicked it on to the far post, where Padilla Bidas charged in and bundled it over the line.

Seven minutes later, the Munich girls were handed the opportunity to extend the lead, when Franziska Kett was fouled in the box by Hanna Németh and referee Lara Wolf pointed to the spot. Harder stepped up and confidently converted the penalty to make it 2-0. Gmeineder replaced Arianna Caruso in the closing stages, the 18-year-old making her Bundesliga debut. FCB confidently saw out the rest of the game to extend their winning record in the league.

Trip to Camp Nou & at home to Hoffenheim 

On Sunday afternoon, it’s the decisive second leg in the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final at FC Barcelona. After the 1-1 draw in the first leg, the two sides will battle it out at Camp Nou for a place in the final in Oslo. Kick-off against the three-time European champions is at 16:30 CEST. The following Wednesday, attention turns back to the Bundesliga as Bayern host TSG Hoffenheim on Matchday 24.