Can FC Bayern Women take step towards quarter-finals away at Atlético Madrid?

A 3-1 win at Paris Saint-Germain prior to the last international break ensured that FC Bayern Women will at least be in the play-offs for the knockout rounds of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. José Barcala’s side can now take a big step towards an automatic spot in the quarter-finals as they visit Atlético Madrid on Wednesday. Kick-off at the Centro Deportivo Alcalá de Henares is at 21:00 CET. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our preview.

Latest news from Bayern

Coming into Matchday 5 of the league phase, Bayern are among the five teams who know they will compete in the knockout play-offs at the very least. The Munich Frauen showed great spirit to come from behind early on in Paris and turn the game around through Linda Dallmann, Momoko Tanikawa and Jovana Damnjanović. The result placed Bayern fifth in the table after four rounds of fixtures and with their fate in their own hands if they are to avoid the play-offs and go straight to the quarter-finals. They are only a point behind leaders Barcelona (10 points) with two games left.

This is the first time the champions of Germany will play Atlético in a competitive fixture. The only previous meeting of any kind was a summer friendly two years ago when the Spaniards won 2-0 at the Campus.

Opponent: Atlético Madrid

Atlético have made a mixed start to their Champions League campaign. They comfortably won 4-0 at Twente last time out but were previously beaten 2-1 by Juventus and 1-0 by Manchester United. The Spaniards had opened the league phase with a 6-0 thrashing of St. Pölten. Nevertheless, they boast one of the best defences in the competition behind Barcelona and Chelsea with only three goals conceded. The Madrid side come into Matchday 5 in ninth place in the league table, which would only mean a place in the play-offs for the knockout stage.

Las Colchoneras were held to a 2-2 draw by Sevilla in Liga F on Saturday, leaving them fourth in the table with seven wins, four draws and two defeats to their name. Atlético’s Fiamma Benítez has had a direct hand in six Champions League goals this season, leading the standings alongside Bayern’s Klara Bühl.

🔎 Get the lowdown on Atlético here:

Team news

Barcala returns to his homeland without long-term absentees Sarah Zadrazil and Lena Oberdorf (both cruciate ligament), as well as Georgia Stanway, Natalia Padilla Bidas and Kathi Naschenweng, who are all ill and have remained in Munich.

Pre-match quotes

José Barcala: “We’re facing a talented, aggressive opponent who will push us all the way. If we’re to beat Atlético, we need our best coordinated performance as a team. We need to be compact, resolute and ready to take every chance. Every game in the Champions League is tough and a challenge, so we need to be at it from the start.”

Pernille Harder: “I’m expecting a difficult game against Atlético, because Spanish teams tend to be very good in possession. We need to be coordinated in our high pressing. If we play our game and play with the highest concentration, we’ve got a good chance of winning.”

Get to know Alara and her journey ahead of the game in Spain: