Bayern Munich 3–1 Barça: Setback at the Allianz Arena

A first loss of the season for Barça Women, Bayern Munich winning the Champions League group stage match 3-1 at the Allianz Arena, watched by a record crowd of 24,000 for the Bavarians.

Barça remain group leaders over Bayern with two games to go due to their superior goal difference. A draw against Benfica on 15 December will be enough to guarantee a place in the WCL quarterfinals.

Home side come out flying

Bayern started the game very well, Simon having the first shot with just 3 minutes on the clock. A sign of things to come, as just a minute later, Lohmann crossed from the right for Bühl to finish past Sandra Paños to make it 1-0. Barça were playing their customary passing game, but the Bavarians were snuffing out any danger in midfield before mounting dangerous counter attacks. One such break saw Schüller cut back a cross from the left that skipper Magull steered home from inside of the box, 2-0 after 10 minutes. 

Barça were clearly a little shellshocked, with passes uncharacteristically straying, but they regained their collective composure and found some joy down the flanks rather than through the middle of the pitch. A scramble in the Bavarian box after a corner almost bore fruit, and then Crnogorčević had the best chance of the half, Grohs saving from virtually point blank range after 32 minutes. 2-0 at half time.

Improvement after the break

Barça improved after regrouping during half time and making a couple of changes, Aitana having a shot saved after 47 minutes, before a Bronze shot cannoned off the home side's defence six minutes later. The flanks were proving useful for setting up opportunities, Crnogorčević heading on goal after a cross from the right. However, ball progression from defence to attack was still being stymied by Bayern. On one such occasion Stanway fed Magull, who this time turned provider, crossing from the right for Schüller to head back across Paños to make it 3-0 on the hour mark.

It was looking like an insurmountable task, but Barça's liveliest player on the night, Geyse, had other ideas. Her non-stop running bore fruit as she nipped in to score after Grohs took a heavy touch after a back pass. Game on at 3-1. She then had another chance 2 minutes later that Grohs got down well to her right to save, before flashing a ball across the goal on 76 minutes that Crnogorčević almost finished.

Both coaches made changes towards the end of the game, but the last real opportunity came on 90 minutes when substitute Oshoala had a header saved after Mapi Leon crossed from the left. The comeback wasn't to be, final score 3-1, meaning Jonatan Giráldez' side are yet to qualify for the quarterfinals but they remain in first place. Next up, Alhama at Estadi Johan Cruyff on 10 December, kick off 7pm CET.

Game stats

Bayern Munich, 3
Barça, 1

Bayern Munich: Grohs, Viggósdóttir, Rall, Schüller (Kett, min. 74), Lohmann (Kumagai, min. 80), Tainara, Magull, Bühl, Zadrazil, Simon and Stanway.

Barça: Sandra Paños, Rolfo, Mapi León, Paredes, Bronze, Patri Guijarro (Clàudia Pina, min. 70), Walsh (Engen, min. 46), Aitana Bonmatí, Mariona Caldentey (Paralluelo, min. 46), Geyse (Oshoala, min. 87) and Crnogorčević (Marta Torrejón, min. 87).

Goals: 1-0, Bühl (min. 4); 2-0, Magull (min. 10); 3-0, Schüller (min. 60); 3-1, Geyse (min. 65).

Referee: Esther Staubli. Yellow card for Aitana Bonmatí from Barça