It was Saturday, 6 September 2025. Hours ahead of kick-off, people were already streaming towards the Allianz Arena from all directions. It wasn't the usual Bundesliga routine; it felt like a collective awakening. Families with children wanting to watch an FC Bayern Women's match for the first time. Fan groups drumming outside the gates. Young people pulling out their mobile phones because they could sense this day was different from most of the days that had gone before.
When the teams then walked onto the pitch, a mixture of anticipation and excitement swept through the stadium. The Arena was full, really full – full of voices, full of energy, full of anticipation. You could see people looking around at the stands, as if they wanted to reassure themselves that they were not just feeling all this, but actually seeing it too.
This atmosphere carried us; it was bigger than any one of us.
FCB's Klara Bühl on the atmosphere at the Bundesliga opener at the Allianz Arena.
And then came the moment when a normal football match became a historic one: the attendance figure flashed up on the screen – 57,762. It was the largest crowd ever seen at club level in German women's football. What had previously been just a feeling suddenly took on a significance that initially caused a murmur – and then the cheers that provided the soundtrack to an entire year: record. Milestone. New beginning.
On that day, it became clear that this team were not just chasing titles, but pushing boundaries. And that 2025 would be a year that would go far beyond results.
"This atmosphere carried us; it was bigger than any one of us," said Klara Bühl later. FCB Women director Bianca Rech also spoke of a "moment that belongs to the entire team."
The Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga opener, a 2-0 win against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, was more than just the start of the season. Looking back, it was symbolic of a calendar year in which FC Bayern Women continued to grow in sporting terms, matured structurally and grew closer emotionally.
The record-breaking evening reflected the achievements of a team who had already made history by winning the first double in the club's history. The 3-1 victory against SC Freiburg, which secured the third consecutive Bundesliga title, was a testament to the consistency that can only be achieved when a team works together as one for months on end. The weeks leading up to it – the 3-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, the victory against VfL Wolfsburg – also underlined how well-drilled and confident this team were in 2025. Players such as captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir, who has now also extended her contract, gave the team stability that went far beyond a purely sporting aspect.
This togetherness was even more evident in the DFB Cup. The semi-final against TSG Hoffenheim, in which the team turned a 0-2 deficit into a 3-2 triumph, was an afternoon that revealed something: a deep-rooted belief that anything is possible as long as everyone works together. And in the final in Cologne – a 4-2 win over Werder Bremen – experienced players such as Pernille Harder and Magdalena Eriksson, both of whom have since signed new contracts, naturally continued to embody this attitude. The cup win was the emotional culmination of a journey that the team had taken together.
The hardest lesson – and a genuine Bayern response
However, this year also included a night that was memorable in a different way: the defeat at Barcelona. A night that made it clear just how tough it can be playing at the top level in Europe. But it also showed how well this team understand each other. No disintegration, no quarrelling, but a moment of self-assurance.
Internally, the phrase that later became symbolic was coined: “This does not define us, it sharpens us.” And that's exactly how it turned out. A few weeks later, the response followed: first against Juventus and Arsenal, then at Paris Saint-Germain.
The decisive factor was not who scored the goals, but how unified the team was in its approach to these matches. The 7-1 defeat was a heavy blow – but a heavy blow that led to a new attitude: we stand firm. And we stand together.
Big steps – a team with a strong core
2025 was a decisive year off the pitch too. The change of coach from Alexander Straus to José Barcala went smoothly because the team supported him. Barcala brought new ideas, but didn't change what makes this team strong: structure, clarity and trust.
The core of the squad that carries the team is more stable than ever before. The contract extensions for Harder, Eriksson and Viggósdóttir were wrapped up before the end of the year, giving the team a level of continuity that is unrivalled in Europe. At the same time, players such as Momoko Tanikawa, Alara Şehitler and Franziska Kett grew into roles that made the structure broader and more variable.
2025 was a year in which you could feel how the squad was growing together, not only in terms of sport but also in terms of character.
Great outlook – 2026 starts now
FC Bayern head into the new year with a rare combination of confidence and humility. Their position at the top of the Bundesliga going into the winter break, their progress in the Champions League and the stability in their game are one thing. The other is the vision behind it all.
The acquisition of Sportpark Unterhaching opens up a new infrastructural dimension that will shape the team in the long term. More space, more professionalism, more opportunities – a location that reflects the development of recent years. The stadium can hold around 15,000 fans, and FCB CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen called the move "very, very important and a prerequisite for our continued growth."
2025 was a year that ended with a clear vision. A year that brought big moments, made great steps visible and gave hope for a future that extends beyond any league table. And perhaps this is the most important takeaway:
This club didn’t just win. Once again, it redefined itself.
Here's to a successful football year in 2026. Pack ma's! (Let's do this!)
Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir is staying at FC Bayern Women until 2028:
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