FCB Women continue impressive run with 5-1 win at home to Köln

FC Bayern Women came from behind to claim a fourth consecutive win in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. Coach José Barcala’s side celebrated a 5-1 win at home to 1. FC Köln in front of a crowd of 2,500 at the sold-out FC Bayern Campus stadium. It continues their impressive record against the Cologne club, which now stands at 16 competitive meetings without a point dropped.

Sandra Maria Jessen stunned the Bundesliga champions in the fifth minute on Matchday 7 but substitute Momoko Tanikawa ensured that the sides went in level on the stroke of half-time. Bayern then ran away with it in the second half, with Magdalena Eriksson (53’) giving them the lead and then Georgia Stanway (60’), Stine Ballisager (71’) and substitute Pernille Harder (84’) putting the seal on. The sixth win in the seventh game of the season leaves Bayern Women top of the table with 19 points, currently six ahead of closest challengers VfL Wolfsburg, who are playing later on Sunday.

Barcala: ‘Hit back strongly in the second half’

“It was a really hard game. We knew these opponents would play with a lot of strength, intensity and aggression. After conceding the goal and the injury to Oberdorf, it would’ve been easy to lose our heads. But I’m incredibly proud of the team – we stayed calm, found solutions and hit back strongly in the second half.”

Ballisager: ‘We knew we could do more’

“It was a really good win today. We struggled in the first half but after the break we were really strong. I was pleased to be able to give something back to the team with my goal. We knew we could do more than what we offered before the break. We got into our game much better in the second half, as you saw on the pitch.”

United for Munich – OlympiJa!

Before kick-off, the players held up a banner with the message “United for Munich – OlympiJa!“, urging all spectators to vote in favour of Munich staging the Olympics and Paralympics in Munich in the referendum on 26 October.

Important social message

To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the Bayern women's team wore special jerseys designed in collaboration with Allianz to raise awareness of breast cancer prevention. With the shirt featuring a pink Allianz logo and a ribbon as a symbol, the Munich women sent an important social message.

Level at the break

It was an even contest in the early stages, with both sides seeking joy in attack. In the fourth minute, Linda Dallmann had a go from distance but hit the crossbar. Immediately after that, Anna-Lena Stolze attempted a lob, which Maria Luisa Grohs managed to tip over the bar. But from the resulting corner, Jessen headed in the opening goal at the near post. Alara Şehitler had a big chance to equalise in the 14th minute but her shot whistled wide of the post. Not long after that, Bayern suffered another blow as Lena Oberdorf was forced off following a collision with Adriana Achcinska. The hosts didn’t let their heads drop, though, and increasingly took control of the match. Eventually they equalised in stoppage time of the first half, Tanikawa taking advantage of an error by ex-Munich player Marina Hegering.

Following the change of ends, Bayern pushed the visitors deep into their own half in search of the lead. Although Lea Schüller just missed from Klara Bühl’s pass in the 47th minute, Eriksson headed home six minutes later from a Bühl corner to the delight of the crowd. Stanway then all but made sure of the result on the hour mark, smashing the ball in from Schüller’s cut-back. A Ballisager header increased the score to 4-1 with her first goal for the club, and the Bavarians weren’t done yet. Substitute Harder made it 5-1 in the closing stages with a penalty. In stoppage time, Tuva Hansen had to come off with an ankle injury not long after her introduction.

Essen after international break

The players now head off to their respective national teams before the defending double winners return to Women’s Bundesliga action in a fortnight. Munich host SGS Essen on Saturday 1 November at 14:00 CET at the FC Bayern Campus.