FC Bayern Women live the dream in Old Trafford victory over Manchester United

Momoko Tanikawa hadn’t even had time to take in her triumph, let alone come to terms with it. Just last Saturday, she had won the Asian Cup with Japan in Australia. A title of historic significance, including for a young player who is already set to write her own story. And no sooner had the celebrations died down than she was already on a plane back to Europe.

She landed in Munich on Monday, and by Tuesday she was already on the pitch for the final training session, as if there had been no traversing continents, no time difference, no fatigue. Head coach José Barcala decided against starting her at Old Trafford in Manchester, however – perhaps out of consideration, perhaps out of pragmatism. Perhaps also because he knew just how valuable she could still be for FC Bayern Women that evening, even coming off the bench.

In Harder we trust

At first, though, the stage at the Theatre of Dreams belonged to someone else. Pernille Harder, the constant in Bayern’s attacking play. The game had barely begun when it was already turned on its head by the Dane, who timed her run perfectly onto a through ball by Arianna Caruso and produced a clinical finish. It was 1-0 inside just two minutes. Timing, precision, composure. Harder delivered very early on in the match. Once again, some in the stands and in front of their TV screens may have thought.

It was almost inevitable that she would score another goal later on. It was her third consecutive brace across all competitions, and her 47th and 48th goals in the Champions League. She now ranks fourth on the all-time list of top scorers, having overtaken the great Marta (46 goals) with that double in Manchester.

“It was brilliant to win today, especially here at Old Trafford. We knew exactly what a tough and hard-fought match we were in for. Now we need to focus on next week. Then we want to reach the semi-finals, with our fans at the Allianz Arena,” the Dane summed up with a broad grin on her face after the match.

A back-and-forth encounter

It was by no means a foregone conclusion that the Danish forward would be able to even talk about a victory after the first leg, having needed to take the lead three times that evening before finally overcoming United. Maya Le Tissier’s first equaliser from the penalty spot was not the result of a fluke, but rather a gradual shift in the balance of power during the first half. The Red Devils, buoyed by the atmosphere that Old Trafford once again managed to create that evening, gradually found their footing after the early shock.

Watch highlights from the first leg in Manchester: 

It wasn’t the deafening noise or the overwhelming spectacle, but rather the collective urging of over 7,000 spectators that gave the home side a boost. During these phases, the Munich Frauen seemed unusually vulnerable, almost searching for their rhythm. The confidence of recent months, during which Bayern had racked up nine consecutive wins, gave way to a palpable nervousness – little inaccuracies, a lack of clarity and moments of hesitation.

Harder’s second goal did little to bring stability either. Rather, it simply reignited the momentum of the match. Hanna Lundkvist’s almost felt inevitable. It was an evening of comebacks, not dominance. And yet Bayern were to prove the more resilient side. Thanks above all to Tanikawa and her stroke of genius.

For what the Japanese attacker showed after coming on as a substitute in the 59th minute was anything but a typical substitute’s performance. Tanikawa played as if she had never been absent, as if the triumph in Sydney had not worn her down but sharpened her. In the 84th minute, the match finally reached its decisive moment. The attack rolled down the left, Franziska Kett laid the ball back, and the 20-year-old exploited the space with a clarity. A glance, a precise finish into the bottom corner. Game over.

A memorable win

“It’s special to beat Manchester United in this stadium,” Barcala remarked afterwards. “The opposition pushed us to our limits and we had to defend very well on numerous occasions. I’m very pleased with how the team performed and approached the game. We had the quality and a clear game plan.”

As well as the team, it was Tanikawa who received special praise from the Spaniard: “Momoko is an exceptional player. She’s so comfortable on the ball, even under pressure. She brought a lot of consistency to our play when we were in possession and injected a new rhythm into the game. When she’s in the final third and gets just a little space, she possesses incredible qualities. We’re very happy to have her back.”

The match-winner herself, however, remained as modest as ever. “I’m very happy that I was able to help my team,” Tanikawa said later. “I had enough time and space in that situation. So I just took a shot and went for goal.”

Old Trafford had certainly worked its magic that evening, carrying the Red Devils, time and again opening up the game and keeping the outcome in the balance. But it was the team from Munich who had the final say. And it was, of all people, the very player who had made history on another continent just a few days earlier who decided the game’s final outcome.

“At the end of the day, we scored the goal at just the right moment,” said president Herbert Hainer, who was there in person to support the team. “It was a brilliant performance from our side. They fought right until the final minute. The win was well deserved. And that, of course, puts us in a very strong position ahead of the second leg.”

The victory is a first step and a reminder at the same time. “We’ve only achieved 50 percent; it’s only the first half,” Barcala pointed out. “Now it all comes down to the details. It’s going to be a tough week ahead, so we need the energy of our fans at the Allianz Arena.”

Nothing done yet

The first step has been taken, but it is fragile and open to any twist. The return leg in Munich will not only decide whether the team progresses, but also whether this squad is capable of proving its resilience. The prospects are promising. A large crowd is expected, and the Arena has proven to be a reliable venue this season. “The more fans there are next week, the more energy we can bring to the pitch,” Harder had said. And yet there remains a sense that even a potential place in the semi-finals – it would be the first since 2021 – would be merely a stepping stone on the way to Bayern’s big dream.

🏟️✨ Over 15,000 tickets have been sold for the second leg at the Allianz Arena – get yours now!

🗞️ Read our report from the first leg here:

Get to know Harder better in our profile piece: