FCB Women celebrate third successive title after beating Freiburg

Champions of Germany again! FC Bayern Women clinched their third successive Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga title on Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 win over SC Freiburg. Under the watchful eyes of club president Herbert Hainer and board member for sport Max Eberl, Lea Schüller’s 21st-minute opener was soon cancelled out by Svenja Fölmli. After the restart, Pernille Harder headed the Munich girls back in front before Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir put the seal on in the 79th minute. FCB Women’s third successive German championship – a first in the club’s history – is now mathematically confirmed.

Anniversary matchday at Campus

The home fixture against Freiburg was designated as the 125th anniversary matchday. In the build-up to the match, numerous activities such as throwing games and sporting challenges organised by the basketball department as well as an information stand about the FC Bayern Campus provided plenty of entertainment. In the morning, 70 participants also took the German Sports Badge. In addition, there was a girls' football day for players born between 2009 and 2014. 

One change to line-up

Head coach Alexander Straus made just one change from the team that started the 3-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, with Arianna Caruso replacing Alara Şehitler in attack. Momoko Tanikawa and captain Viggósdóttir also returned to the bench.

Level at the break

The hosts looked to gain control in the early stages but initially lacked accuracy in their attacking play. It was a mistake by Freiburg that resulted in the first opportunity, but goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe saved Sydney Lohmann’s effort from distance. Bayern were beginning to get into the final third more and the first big chance led to the first goal. Harder flicked on Carolin Simon’s free kick and Schüller directed it into the net from close range. The visitors replied with their first attacking action a few minutes later. Fölmli headed over from close range but then did better with the next chance, poking the ball in for the equaliser in the 28th minute. The two sides largely cancelled each other out for the remainder of the first half, which ended all square.

Harder with the head

Bayern upped the pressure after the restart as they pushed to retake the lead. Schüller had the best chance in the early part of the second period but couldn’t hit the target from Klara Bühl’s precise cross, before Lohmann also went close at the far post. A few minutes later, the next clear opportunity fell to Harder, but she was denied at close range by an excellent reaction stop by Borggräfe. 

Midway through the second half, the home side were rewarded for their efforts when the unmarked Harder headed in at the far post from Bühl’s corner. Less than 15 minutes later, FCB were celebrating after a corner again: Freiburg failed to clear the ball properly and substitute Viggósdóttir nodded it in. Bühl could’ve even got on the scoresheet herself moments later, but her powerful drive from 16 metres crashed against the upright. Bayern maintained their lead until the end of the match and the full-time whistle sparked wild celebrations for a third consecutive league title!

Cup final and season finale

After winning the league, the Munich girls are already eyeing their next silverware this coming Thursday, 1 May. FCB take on SV Werder Bremen at 16:00 CEST at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne in the final of the DFB Cup. That’s followed by the last two fixtures in the Bundesliga: on Monday 5 May, Bayern visit Jena before welcoming SGS Essen to the Campus on the final matchday on Sunday 11 May (14:00 CEST).