FC Barcelona 1-2 Bayern Munich: Beaten in France

The Barça women have lost a tight match to Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the AMO’S French Cup. On the day that Geyse and Bronze both made their blaugrana debuts and with the club’s vice-president Elena Fort watching from the stands, it was the Germans who earned their place in the final, and the Catalans will instead play for third place on Friday at 6pm CEST against the losers of PSG and Manchester United. 

If anything, it was Barça who had the best of the chances in a lively first half, but five minutes before the break, Bayern caught them out on the counter attack and Gwinn found the net.

After the break, it was more of the same. Both sides pressed forwards, although a Barça goal always looked somewhat more likely, and that was indeed what we got. Graham Hansen’s 59^th minute effort was a fine one, but much as Barça fully warranted even further returns for their insistence, some excellent goalkeeping from Bayern stopper Grohs stood in their way.

Bayern were hardly sitting back either, and the game built up to a thrilling finale in which both sides knew that a single goal would probably decide it. Eventually, the Germans took it by latching onto an uncharacteristic mix-up in the Barça defence. Laurent punished them for it by converting into an empty net, and although Barça had chances to equalise for a second time, this was Groh’s day in the Munich goal. 

MATCH STATS

Barça, 1
Bayern Munich, 2

Barça: Gemma (Sandra Paños, min 46), Paredes, María León, Pina (Vicky López, min 85), Graham (Geyse, min 66), Marta (Lucy Bronze, min 46), Mariona, Patri, Engen (Maria Pérez, min 66), Ariana Arias (Rolfö, min 46) i Judit Pujols (Crnogorcevic, min 46). 

Bayern Munich: Grohs, Kumagai (Hannaglas, min 46), Viggósdóttir, Gwinn (Rall, min 65), Dallman (Emelyne Laurent, min 65), Schüller (Joca Damnjanovic, min 46), De Souza, Bühl (Magull, min 46), Zadrazil (Lohmann, min 46), Simon, Stanway.

Goals: 0-1, Gwinn (min 40); 1-1, Graham Hansen (min 59); 1-2, Laurent (min 84). 

Referee: Charlène Laur.