FC Bayern Women win 4-1 at Freiburg

FC Bayern Women have extended their impressive winning streak! On Friday evening, coach José Barcala's team were in imperious form in their first away game of the year in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, celebrating a commanding 4-1 (1-1) win at SC Freiburg. Pernille Harder (27’) gave the Munich side a 1-0 lead on Matchday 17 at the Dreisamstadion, before Lisa Kolb (45'+1) netted to make it 1-1 just before the half-time whistle. After the break, Harder (58') bagged her 100th goal in the Women's Bundesliga to put her team back in the lead. In the last quarter of the game, substitute Edna Imade (75') scored on her competitive debut before Linda Dallmann (79') wrapped things up.

Thanks to their 13th consecutive win, the defending champions have extended their lead at the top of the table over closest rivals Wolfsburg to a whopping nine points, for the time being, at least.

Barcala: “Lots of control, possession, and chances”

“In the first half, we had a lot of control, possession, and chances, but they punished us mercilessly for one mistake,” said Barcala after the game. “In the second half, we started off by allowing a few too many counter-attacks, but regained full control with the second and third goals. After the fourth goal, it was all over.”

Harder: “Overall, a good game”

“I think we played well. In the first half, we had a lot of possession and created lots of chances, but only scored the one goal,” said Harder after the game. “In the second half, we had even more chances and got the goals. So overall, it was a good game.”

All-square at half-time

The Munich women got off to a good start and created their first chances early on. In the sixth minute, Harder had a chance to take the lead with a header after a cross from Klara Bühl from the midfield, but former Bayern keeper Laura Benkarth made a strong save. Shortly afterwards, centre-back Stine Ballisager found herself in space after a pass from Jovana Damnjanović, but her effort went over the bar. Harder was more accurate in the 27th minute. After some good work from Dallmann, the Dane slammed the ball into the net from close range to make it 1-0. But shortly before half-time, the home side equalised out of nowhere. In what was virtually their first attack of any note, Ena Mahmutovic was only able to parry a shot from Svenja Fölmlie, and Kolb pounced on the rebound to make it 1-1 at the break.

Dominant second half

The visitors also came out stronger after the break. Just three minutes into the second half, Damnjanović made a strong run down the wing and passed to Harder in the centre, who was denied by Benkarth in the six-yard box. Shortly afterwards, however, the Freiburg keeper was left helpless. Giulia Gwinn chipped the ball into the centre from the right and Harder (58') headed home to restore the lead, scoring her 100th goal in 127 games in the Women's Bundesliga. In the 70th minute, winter signing Imade made her competitive debut for the Bayern women when she came off the bench for Bühl. And it got even better: just five minutes later, the Spaniard celebrated her maiden goal for Bayern, putting the game beyond doubt at 3-1. Dallmann finally wrapped things up in the 79th minute after a fine pass from Gwinn.

In Jena and Bremen

There's no respite for the reigning double winners: this coming Wednesday, February 11, the Munich side play their rescheduled match from Matchday 16 at Carl Zeiss Jena. Kick-off is at 18:00 CET at the ad hoc Arena. Five days later, on Monday, February 16, also at 18:00 CET, they have another away game in the Women's Bundesliga against Werder Bremen.