FC Bayern Women kick off Oktoberfest with big Köln win to go top of Bundesliga

FC Bayern Women kicked off the 191st Oktoberfest on Saturday afternoon by going top of the Google Pixel Bundesliga table with a 5-2 victory at home to Köln. Jovana Damnjanović and Edna Imade combined to net three times in the first 15 minutes, before the visitors got back within a goal through Carolin Elsen and Beke Sterner either side of half-time. Alara’s penalty and Sarah Zadrazil’s first goal after her return then ended any hope of a comeback to wrap up the three points for Bayern.

Blistering start

Köln had the best defence in the division going into this game and made a brave start as they tested Ena Mahmutovic, but the Bayern goalkeeper quickly sent the ball up the field to Damnjanović, who finished into the right corner with only four minutes played. Just five minutes later, the Serbian striker set up Imade to double the lead. Even then, Köln remained in the game and Lydia Andrade tested Mahmutovic from a long ball. But Bayern showed their clinical streak again when Linda Dallmann slipped the ball through to Damnjanović, who again found Imade to beat goalkeeper Lisa Schmitz.

José Barcala’s side calmed things down after that breathless opening quarter of an hour, but the visitors remained a persistent threat. Sophie Nachtigall headed a corner over the bar, before Schmitz parried a Momoko Tanikawa effort that Imade could only put against the post on the follow-up. Köln did get one back in added time through Elsen.

Another quickfire double settles result

Half-time substitutes Franziska Kett and Kassandra Potsi combined down the left after the restart, but the latter’s shot was saved by Schmitz. After a lengthy injury stoppage, Bayern kept pushing but were caught on the break by Sterner’s header just before the hour. The Munich Frauen got the chance to restore their cushion when Kett was fouled dribbling into the box, with Alara stepping up to put the penalty into the left corner. And like in the first half, one goal brought another as substitute Zadrazil picked up the ball from Sarah Mattner – making her first start – in the box and guided her shot across goal into the bottom left corner.

Champions League and DFB Cup

Bayern have another home game in three days as they make their competitive debut at the Sportpark Unterhaching by hosting Manchester City for the opening game of the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Tuesday (18:45 CEST). The following Sunday is the first round of the DFB Cup as the holders visit Borussia-Park to take on Borussia Mönchengladbach (15:00).