© FC Bayern / Alexandra Beier
Done! FC Bayern Women are top of Group C after Matchday 4 in the UEFA Women's Champions League and have qualified for the quarter-finals with two games to spare. Regardless of what happens in the remaining group fixtures at home to Juventus and away to Arsenal, the Munich girls are guaranteed a place in the knockout phase, despite dropping points in the 1-1 draw at Vålerenga on Thursday evening.
Started with statement win
Pernille Harder is Bayern's top goalscorer in the Champions League. | © FC Bayern
Having missed out on the quarters following an agonising defeat to PSG last season, FCB Women were better from the start this year. In the opening match, the German champions claimed an impressive 5-2 victory at home to Arsenal, with Pernille Harder's hat-trick inside 15 minutes sealing the three points. That was followed just a week later by a tough trip to Juventus, but again the Munich girls passed the test with flying colours, Linda Dallmann and again Harder scoring in a 2-0 win in Turin.
Through to quarter-finals after four matchdays
FCB Women also got the better of Vålerenga, at least at home. | © FC Bayern
After those two wins against big-name opponents, Vålerenga visited the FC Bayern Campus, where FCB eased to a 3-0 win. Harder, Giulia Gwinn and Sarah Zadrazil were on the scoresheet to make it three wins out of three. Then on Thursday evening, Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw in Oslo, but thanks to Arsenal's victory against Juve, the point was enough to secure a quarter-final berth early.
Objective: top the group
Now the goal is to secure an important first place in the remaining two Champions League group games. Alexander Straus' side host Juventus at the Campus on 12 December before travelling to Arsenal on 18 December in the final match of the year.
The match report from the meeting in Oslo:
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