‘Fans will be an important factor’ – Sarah Zadrazil on FC Bayern Women’s Champions League clash with Barcelona

There are certain evenings that speak for themselves. When FC Bayern Women take on Barcelona in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final on Saturday evening (tickets still available here), a great deal comes to a head: sporting progress, institutional ambition and personal stories. The opposition are not just any team, but three-time Champions League winners, a side that has shaped European women’s football in recent years like almost no other.

It is the last stop on the road to a potential final. That’s really all the context you need. And yet there is an additional perspective. It belongs, among others, to Sarah Zadrazil. For she is one of those who cannot be on the pitch on Saturday, but will be cheering her team on loudly from the stands.

A cruciate ligament tear last year has kept her out of action, at least physically. Since then, Bayern’s No.25 has been working meticulously on her comeback. “I’m feeling really good. Everything is going to plan in rehab and I’m making really good progress,” she says. “I’m spending more and more time on the pitch. My next step will be to integrate back into the team.” Step by step, in a controlled manner, without rushing but with a clear focus, the Austrian is working her way back. On Saturday itself, however, she will be sitting in the stands, closer than any spectator and yet further away than any teammate on the pitch. Zadrazil will observe, analyse, follow the action – indeed, be part of the game – without being able to intervene.

Memories of London in 2021

Zadrazil is one of the players in the Munich squad who knows what it feels like to reach a semi-final at this level. She was part of the team in 2021, when they faced Chelsea. “I remember that match really well. It was a closely fought contest, and in the end, unfortunately, a few small details made all the difference.” Bayern had won the first leg 2-1 at home. And in the return leg in England, it looked, at least initially, as though they might make it to their first final.

That was thanks to her goal. A dream goal in the second leg of the semi-finals. Following a corner, the Austrian struck the ball with full force from distance, hammering it unstoppably under the crossbar to level the score at 1-1. “That goal in London was something very special for me. We were so close to reaching the final,” she says. In the end, it wasn’t to be, partly because Pernille Harder, then still playing for the Blues, scored and Chelsea went on to win 4-1.

This weekend sees the Munich Frauen contest their third semi-final in the Champions League, marking another milestone in the club’s recent history. For Zadrazil, the significance of the match is clear. “When I think of this match against Barcelona, it’s an absolute highlight. In games like this, we need to be at our very best, especially against this team. We can’t afford to make many – if any – mistakes, because it’s precisely those little things that make the difference. It all comes down to these two games, in which we have to bring all our quality, our passion and our team spirit onto the pitch.”

When she talks about Barcelona, she doesn’t hold back. “As far as I’m concerned, they’re probably the best team in Europe right now. Their passing game, in particular, is exceptional. They’re so dominant that you often barely get any time on the ball because you’re too busy defending.” The Austria international outlines the counter-strategy precisely: “We need to close down the spaces, stay compact and give them as little room as possible.”

She also recalls an experience that offers encouragement and can serve as a guide, namely the 3-1 victory over Barcelona in Munich in 2022, also at the Allianz Arena. “We defended extremely compactly back then, conceded very little and made the most of our counter-attacks. That evening was special; I can still picture it clearly.” Whilst this doesn’t provide a ready-made recipe for success, it does offer an important benchmark. Proof that Barcelona can be beaten when everything really clicks.

Missing piece at the Allianz Arena

The Allianz Arena will once again be more than just a stadium on Saturday; it will become a stage and a bastion of support for the Munich women. All three matches played there so far this season have caused a sensation. You only need think of the recent last-minute victory against Manchester United. “The fans will be a crucial factor for us, just as they have been all season,” says the Austrian. “When we have them behind us, it helps us go the extra mile and get into more challenges. That can carry us through the game,” says Zadrazil, referring to the energy that can spill over from the stands onto the team.

Kompany: ‘Just fun to watch’

The men’s team, who, like the women, have this week won the Bundesliga and are also in the DFB Cup final and Champions League semis, will be following this match closely. Within the club, a picture is emerging of two teams competing at the highest level, both with a chance of winning titles, as they progress through the season side by side. Vincent Kompany recently expressed this bond at his press conference ahead of the cup semi-final in Leverkusen: “As a family, we’ve been watching women’s football for a very long time. We always watched the women’s games during my time in Manchester. We’ve also been to Bayern Women’s matches here three or four times. It’s just fun to watch.” The men’s head coach went on to say: “The quality against Barcelona will be the highest in Europe. They are very, very strong in women’s football. I hope the Allianz Arena is sold out; it should be for this match. That’s my opinion. Hopefully we’ll get a bit of momentum from our women’s team. We’ll definitely be watching it.”

It’s against this backdrop that board member for sport Max Eberl sees the semi-final as part of a bigger picture. For him, the focus is not just on a single match, but on the club’s overall development: “It’s great when the club is so successful and everyone motivates and supports one another. The fact that the treble is a possibility for both teams makes it all the more enjoyable.”

Stability, depth and aspirations

Zadrazil himself is looking forward to Saturday evening’s showdown with a sense of excitement but also with confidence. “I believe that incredible consistency has been our hallmark this season. There are very, very few moments when we aren’t performing at our very best.” Added to this is the depth of the squad: “It often makes little difference who’s on the pitch.” The semi-final is therefore less of a surprise and more of a logical consequence for them, yet they remain realistic. “We’ve certainly earned this. But we also know it’s going to be extremely difficult. Barcelona will demand everything from us, in both the first and second legs.”

What remains is a cautiously worded assertion: “We have our strengths.” And finally, a goal that she does not embellish: “I’m certain that the team will give it their all to reach the Champions League final for the first time.” No promise, but a dream that lives on within the whole team.

🏟️💫 Look back on some of the women’s greatest Allianz Arena moments

🗞️ Get the lowdown on Barcelona: