FC Bayern Women bow out of Champions League

FC Bayern Women missed out on the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals after being held to a 2-2 draw at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, despite twice taking the lead at the FC Bayern Campus. Giulia Gwinn had given Die Frauen the advantage in the first half before a dramatic closing period that saw Tabitha Chawinga grab an equaliser. Only two minutes later, Sydney Lohmann restored Bayern’s advantage, but an unfortunate Georgia Stanway own goal condemned the Munich ladies to a draw.

The result means Bayern finish Group C in third place on seven points and miss out on the knockout stage. PSG top the section on 10 points ahead of Ajax on goal difference and will contest the quarter-finals.

Hansen into the side

Alexander Straus made one change from the weekend’s 1-0 Bundesliga win at home to Hoffenheim as Tuva Hansen came in at centre-back, with Linda Sembrant ineligible in the Champions League.

Bayern were again without Tainara due to illness, as well as long-term absentees Carolin Simon (cruciate ligament), Weronika Zawistowska (cruciate ligament), Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir (kneecap), Magdalena Eriksson (metatarsal) and Ana Maria Guzman (knee).

Gwinn with lead

It was an evenly contested match from the start, with national team coach Horst Hrubesch and Bayern men’s player Mathys Tel watching on at the Campus. The first attempt came from the hosts on 10 minutes from Pernille Harder, who fired wide from a promising position after winning the ball herself. While the French side had their own moments, they rarely troubled Mala Grohs’ defence.

Lea Schüller then had a double chance to break the deadlock but was denied by Constance Picaud. However, the following corner did produce the first goal as Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir played the ball on to Gwinn to head in and put Bayern 1-0 ahead at half-time.

Three second-half goals

Die Frauen were again the better side after the break and pushed the Parisians back. However, the visitors had the first chance of note, but Grace Geyoro was unable to beat Grohs. There was nothing the Bayern goalkeeper could do in the 73rd minute, though, when Chawinga rounded off a counter to bring it back to 1-1.

Bayern’s response was only two minutes in coming, however. Klara Bühl’s cross from the right was met by the towering Lohmann to power in a header and restore the Bavarians’ advantage. Unfortunately, though, that was not the end of the drama in Munich, as substitute Amalie Vangsgaard turned a low shot from the edge of the box onto the legs of Stanway, who inadvertently knocked the ball into her own net. Bayern then thought they had won it deep into added time when Jovana Damnjanovic smashed home, only for the assistant’s flag to go up for offside and curtail the celebrations.

Freiburg at home then Köln away

Straus and his team now turn their focus to domestic matters, starting with next Monday’s home game against Freiburg in the Bundesliga (19:30 CET). The following weekend brings an away game at Köln on Saturday, 10 February (14:00).