FC Bayern Women return to competitive action for 2024 as they travel to Italian champions Roma on Thursday for Matchday 5 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Here’s the stats and facts ahead of the game as Die Frauen try to land their second win of this group stage in the Eternal City.
1. Strong in defence
Alexander Straus’s team have conceded only four goals in the Champions League this season, which is the third-fewest of all teams in the competition. The Munich Women have been particularly good at keeping out set pieces and are in fact yet to let in any.
Captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir and her defence are yet to concede from a set piece in the Champions League this season.
2. Global Bayern
Bayern have fielded players from 11 different countries on the continental stage this season, which is the most of any team in the Champions League. Alongside representatives from Germany, there have been players from Austria, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, England, Scotland, Iceland, Serbia and Brazil who have featured for Bayern in Europe this term.
3. Special game for Feiersinger
Roma’s Laura Feiersinger will have some mixed feelings ahead of facing Bayern. The Austrian was on the books in Munich between 2011 and 2016, winning the Bundesliga in 2015 and 2016. However, she has taken on Bayern 15 times with Sand, Frankfurt and Roma since leaving and is yet to register a single win (D2, L13).
4. Thrilling first encounter
Jovana Damnjanovic scored the opening goal against Roma in Munich.
The first meeting in Munich in November provided a dramatic finish, but unfortunately not the one that Bayern wanted. A Jovana Damnjanovic strike and an own goal had put Straus’s side 2-0 ahead in the first half before the Italians struck back after the break. Evelyne Viens got one back before Manuela Giugliano found an equaliser in added time.
5. Good omen for Bayern
Die Frauen’s trip to the Italian capital is the fifth game of this season’s Champions League group stage – it’s a matchday that has proven fortuitous for Bayern in the past with a 5-1 win away at Hacken in 2021/22 and a 4-0 victory at home to Rosengard last year.
Maximiliane Rall won’t be involved after leaving for an American club:
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