Queens of the Allianz Arena: FCB Women sprinkle Champions League magic

FC Bayern Women provided a magical European night against Arsenal! As soon as it was revealed that the double winners from Munich would meet the title holders from London at the Allianz Arena on the third matchday of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, expectations were high – and the clash didn’t disappoint. Five goals, an electric atmosphere and magical moments that get under the skin.

One of these moments came in the 86th minute, when captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir’s outstretched leg turned in a cross from Klara Bühl to make it 3-2 and spark wild celebrations. But starting from the beginning, it looked for a long time like being an evening to forget for the Munich girls.

Difficult start

The visitors undoubtedly made the better start to the match, opening the scoring with the first chance in the fifth minute. Maria Luisa Grohs initially saved Mariona Caldentey’s effort from close range but Emily Fox headed in the rebound. Arsenal were on top in this period and aside from two harmless attempts from Franziska Kett and Lea Schüller, there was little happening for Bayern in attack. Unlike the Gunners. Shortly after Stina Blackstenius had hit the crossbar, Caldentey was more accurate with her effort and curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area to double the lead.

Bayern rally

Despite the two-goal deficit, the German champions didn’t give in. Symbolic of this was a situation in the 37th minute: Fox gave her compatriot Georgia Stanway a shove, then the England international pushed her back. Bayern were fighting back, and from then on they did so in their play as well. It remained 2-0 at half-time, but after the break the hosts increasingly took control and began to win the midfield battle. “It shows how we work as a team: we always stick together and want to give everything,” said Bühl afterwards. “Even when things don’t go well, we keep going to find a way together.”

Barcala shows the Midas touch

The introductions of Pernille Harder in minute 56 and Alara six minutes later brought about the turning point. The 18-year-old needed exactly five minutes after replacing birthday girl Schüller to get her team back in the game, slotting the ball in after good work down the left side by the lively Bühl. “We went into the second half with a lot more energy and power,” described Viggósdóttir. “When we got our first goal, the momentum completely turned. That’s the beauty of football.” Hope of getting a result was back and head coach José Barcala showed he has the Midas touch, as the substitution of Harder also paid off. 

A thunderbolt to level

Buoyed by the goal and roared on by the 15,407 fans at the Allianz Arena, things continued to heat up on the pitch. It was clear to everyone by now that, with a bit of magic, something was still possible. “You sensed that we wanted to turn the game around,” emphasised Giulia Gwinn at full time. With 71 minutes gone, Momoko Tanikawa tried her luck from distance but Daphne van Domselaar got enough behind it to save. The Arsenal keeper had no chance in the 80th minute, though, when Harder sent a looping volley into the top corner of the net. And the Bavarians weren’t done there...

Viggósdóttir with sheer desire

The magical evening in the north of Munich was rounded off when Viggósdóttir showed determination to get on the end of another Bühl cross and net the winning goal – turnaround complete. There was no holding back the celebrations anymore in the stands or on the pitch, as Grohs pointed out: “Winning at the Allianz Arena is always special. To come from behind like that and score the winning goal near the end is a very special feeling. The fans were behind us and just made it fun.”

FCB Women must now take that magic into the DFB Cup last-16 tie at FC Ingolstadt 04 in four days’ time, on Sunday 16 November (14:00 CET), when the double winners have the chance to progress to the quarter-finals and keep their dream of defending the cup title alive.

Read the match report: