2-2 in Madrid - FCB Women draw at Atlético

Despite taking the lead at one stage, FC Bayern Women had to settle for a 2-2 (0-1) draw at Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Women's Champions League on Wednesday evening. Vilde Bøe Risa (13 minutes) scored the opener against José Barcala's side at the Atlético de Madrid Centro Deportivo Alcalá de Henares in the first half. After the break, Pernille Harder's brace (63'/78') turned the game around before Fiamma (88') levelled the score at 2-2. The draw on Matchday five means the Munich side, who had already qualified for the knockout stage before the game, now have an impressive ten points on the board. The Bayern women are now sixth in the table.

Barcala: “Gave them too much space“

"The early goal we conceded had an emotional impact, but we reacted well. We were very dominant and pinned our opponents deep into their own half," said Barcala after the match. "But Atlético kept things very tight between the lines and made it difficult for us. After half-time, we shifted play more to the outside and turned the game around. Unfortunately, we then gave them too much space after taking the lead and conceded another goal."

Harder: "Certainly disappointed"

"Of course we wanted the three points, which is why I'm certainly disappointed," said Harder after the game. "But we'll go for it again next week. We'll do everything we can to win and then we'll see where we end up."

Narrow deficit at the break

The home side got off to the better start. In the 13th minute, Bøe Risa scored from the penalty spot after captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir was deemed to have handled the ball in the penalty area to make it 1-0. The Munich side continued to struggle at first, but settled into the game as time went on. Klara Bühl then had the first attempt on target in the 25th minute after a solo move, but her effort was slightly deflected past the far post. Seven minutes later, Linda Dallmann just went wide after a pinpoint pass from Jovana Damnjanović. Shortly before the break, Damnjanović (42') then had a great chance to equalise, but her volley from the edge of the penalty area rattled off the crossbar. And so the players headed into the dressing room at the break with a narrow deficit.

Three goals in the second half

After the break, the visitors stepped up their game and pressed for an equaliser, but the Madrilenians now defended deep and made it difficult for the Munich side for long periods. In the 52nd minute, the referee then awarded a penalty for a handball, as she had done in the opening stages, after reviewing the video footage. This time, however, it was to the Bayern women, but Giulia Gwinn missed from the spot. A few minutes later, a shot from Damnjanović struck the side netting. But the breakthrough finally came in the 63rd minute. Following a pass from Bühl, Harder netted with a deflected shot on the turn to make it 1-1. And around 15 minutes later, the Dane doubled her tally. Again it was Bühl who made a strong run forward and found Harder in the centre. The Denmark international didn't hesitate and slotted the ball home to make it 2-1. But the home side had the last word in the form of Fiamma (88'), who slammed the ball into the corner in the closing stages to make the final score 2-2.

Home games against Hamburg and Vålerenga

Next week sees another midweek game: The reigning double winners go again on Sunday, 14 December, with a home match against Hamburger SV in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. The game kicks off at 14:00 CET at the FC Bayern Campus stadium. And three days later, on Wednesday 17 December at 21:00, they face Vålerenga in the Champions League at the same venue.