FC Bayern post clear-cut home win over Leverkusen

• 5th Bundesliga win on the bounce
• Eriksson, Gwinn and Damnjanović on target
• FCB tighten grip om top spot

FC Bayern Women made it five straight Bundesliga wins on the spin with a 3-0 home victory over Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Monday evening. The Munich side took an early lead against the Werkself thanks to a header from Magdalena Eriksson in just the 6th minute. Shortly after the restart, Giulia Gwinn increased the lead with a thumping free-kick, before Jovana Damnjanović made the final score 3-0 in the 58th minute.

Thanks to their victory over Leverkusen, FCB Women have cemented their place at the top of the table. After nine matchdays, the Frauen lead the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga on 23 points, ahead of VfL Wolfsburg (22 points) and Eintracht Frankfurt (17 points).

Two changes to the starting line-up

Head coach Alexander Straus made two changes to his starting line-up compared to the 1-0 away win at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Inès Belloumou replaced Katharina Naschenweng in the Munich defence, and Sydney Lohmann started in place of Lea Schüller in attack. 

Bayern were without long-term injury victims Pernille Harder (medial ligament injury), Carolin Simon (cruciate ligament rupture), Weronika Zawistowska (cruciate ligament rupture) and Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir (kneecap dislocation).

Eriksson on target early

Bayern got off to the better start and established a clear foothold in the Leverkusen half in the opening minutes. After a corner from Klara Bühl, Magdalena Eriksson rose highest in the Werkself penalty area in the sixth minute and headed home to give FCB an early lead. The Munich side continued to put the pedal to the metal: Glódís Viggósdóttir escaped her marker and headed powerfully after a Bühl corner from the right, but narrowly missed the goal tended by Leverkusen keeper Friederike Repohl (20').

After FCB's dominant opening phase, the visitors became increasingly assured and created their first chance. Synne Hansen set up Nikola Karczewska in the penalty area, but her header sailed over Mala Grohs' goal. Shortly before the break, an FCB set-piece situation again caused danger: Bühl's free-kick from the channel found Jovana Damnjanović, whose header was saved by Bayer keeper Repohl.

Bayern build up a head of steam

The second half got off to a similarly lively start from Bayern's perspective: following a foul on the edge of the penalty area, Giulia Gwinn stepped up to take the free-kick and struck a superb finish under the crossbar for a 2-0 lead. Just seven minutes later, the free-flowing Frauen made it 3-0: Georgia Stanway slipped the ball through to Damnjanović, who coolly chipped the ball over Repohl and into the Werkself net.

Bayern had everything under control after that and fashioned another great chance in the 69th minute. After a corner, Damnjanović once again had the chance, but her low finish slid just wide of the post. FCB continued to press for the fourth goal in the final phase, but the Leverkusen defence kept it tight and it finished as a deserved 3-0 home win.

At home to Ajax, away to Nürnberg

On Thursday 14 December, FCB Women already face their next task in the UEFA Women's Champions League. Stanway and Co. host Ajax Amsterdam at their home FC Bayern Campus for the Matchday 3 clash. Kick-off against the reigning Dutch champions is at 18:45 CET. Just another three days later, FCB face FC Nürnberg in the Bundesliga. The Matchday 10 fixture kicks off on Sunday 17 December at 18:30 CET at the Max Morlock Stadium.