Manchester City begin their [2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League](https://womenfootball.blog/womens-champions-league-2026-27/) campaign with one of the toughest away assignments of the opening round, travelling to Germany to face Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
The English champions have started the new domestic season with three consecutive WSL victories, while Bayern reached the Champions League semi-finals last season and enter the new campaign determined to take another step in Europe. It will be the first competitive meeting between Bayern and Manchester City.
**Competition**: UEFA Women’s Champions League – League Phase
**Date**: Tuesday 22 September 2026
**Kick-off**: 17:45 BST / 18:45 CEST
**Venue**: Stadion am Sportpark, Unterhaching
The match will be shown live on [Disney+](https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/browse/entity-ffdb7082-cd63-4f38-bc18-f379b44260e5). Kick-off is at 17:45 BST, with viewers in Central Europe able to watch from 18:45 CEST.
Bayern will be without Magdalena Eriksson and Regina van Eijk for their Champions League opener. Eriksson remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Van Eijk is unavailable because of an ankle problem.
There is better news for José Barcala with Stine Ballisager and Bernadette Kakounan both available again following spells on the sidelines. Captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir should therefore lead the Bayern defence as they prepare for the threat posed by Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp.
Bayern are beginning a significant European campaign after reaching the Champions League semi-finals last season. Barcala described City as one of Europe’s strongest sides but believes opening the league phase at Bayern’s new home in Unterhaching gives his team plenty to look forward to.
Giulia Gwinn also made Bayern’s ambitions clear ahead of the game, saying the squad feels ready to take the next step after narrowly missing out on last season’s final.
Manchester City have confirmed a 20-player travelling squad for Germany. Vivianne Miedema and Sydney Lohmann are not part of the travelling group as both continue their recoveries from significant injuries.
Andrée Jeglertz can still call on most of his key attacking options, including Shaw, Hemp, Beth Mead, Mary Fowler and Aoba Fujino. Summer additions Carlotta Wamser, Grace Clinton and Sam Coffey are also in the squad.
City arrive in Munich with a perfect domestic record. The defending WSL champions have beaten Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Liverpool, scoring 11 goals across their opening three league matches.
Their latest victory was less straightforward. City eventually beat Liverpool 4-2 after being pushed hard by the Reds, with Hemp scoring twice and Shaw also finding the net.
**Bayern Munich predicted XI:**
Grohs; Gwinn, Ballisager, Viggósdóttir, Simon; Stanway, Zadrazil; Bühl, Harder, Dallmann; Schüller.
**Manchester City predicted XI:**
Yamashita; Casparij, Rose, Greenwood, Wamser; Hasegawa, Coffey; Mead, Fowler, Hemp; Shaw.
This should provide a much clearer indication of City’s European level than their opening domestic fixtures. Bayern were Champions League semi-finalists last season and have made a top-four finish in the new league phase one of their objectives. Viggósdóttir expects an evenly matched contest and highlighted similarities between the teams’ styles.
City’s attacking quality is obvious. Shaw remains the focal point, while Hemp has started the season particularly well and scored twice against Liverpool. But there were also warning signs in that victory. Liverpool’s high press caused City significant problems during the first half and defensive mistakes contributed to both goals they conceded.
Bayern have the quality to punish similar errors. The battle involving Shaw and Bayern’s central defence should be particularly important, while City’s ability to control midfield through Hasegawa and Coffey could determine how often Hemp and the other forwards receive the ball in dangerous positions.
This has the potential to be one of the standout matches of the opening Champions League round. Neither side is likely to be satisfied simply protecting a point. Bayern have home advantage and want to establish Unterhaching as their new European home, while City return to the Champions League as English champions with ambitions of challenging deep into the competition.
City’s attacking form gives them reason for confidence, but Bayern represent a considerable step up in opposition. With both teams comfortable in possession and capable of attacking quickly when space opens up, there should be opportunities at both ends.
Bayern Munich 2-3 Manchester City
There is very little separating the two sides on paper. City have started the season strongly, but their defensive vulnerability against Liverpool is something Bayern can exploit. A draw away against last season’s semi-finalists would still represent a solid beginning to City’s European campaign.