Bayern Munich staged an epic comeback to defeat Arsenal 3-2 in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, leaving the Gunners with one win in three.
The writing seemed to be on the wall for the German side as Emily Fox and Mariona Caldentey fired the visitors to a 2-0 lead within just 20 minutes at Allianz Stadium. Bayern Munich have struggled to get off the mark this Champions League season, only partly reconciling their disastrous 7-1 loss to Barcelona with a narrow 2-1 victory over Juventus.
However, an epic comeback feat saw the German champions overturn a 2-0 deficit to claim the three points over the Champions League holders in dramatic fashion.
The Lineups
BAY: Grohs; Gwinn, Viggosdottir, Pedersen, Kett; Stanway, Tanikawa; Bühl, Damnjanovic, Dallmann; Schüller
ARS: van Domselaar; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Mariona, Pelova, Russo; Mead, Foord, Blackstenius
The Action
It was Arsenal who got off the mark first in Munich as Beth Mead circled around her defenders before Grohs’ save bobbled up to Emily Fox who headed home the scraps from close range. The Gunners dictated the play in the opening stages, leaving Bayern answerless and chasing their own shadows.
Mariona Caldentey was able to double the advantage for the holders with a booming strike from distance. It seemed like it was going to be one-way traffic from there as Arsenal ,aintained the tempo of the game to their preference.
As the second half kicked off, Arsenal maintained in control of the fixture despite suggestions that Bayern were beginning to creep their way back in. It wasn’t until the 60th minute when Arsenal capitulated due a round of baffling changes made by head coach Renée Slegers.
Bayern sensed the blood in the water and began to capitalise on Arsenal’s disorganisation. The German side launched forward on the counterattack as Klara Bühl found space in and behind Lotte Wubben-Moy before sending a searching pass into the feet of substitute Alara Şehitler. Şehitler was in acres of space as she tapped home her finish past the presence of van Domselaar in goal.
The Gunners struggled to keep up with Bayern’s advances for the next ten minutes, and it wasn’t long before Pernille Harder – a player who has always loved to score against Arsenal –added a second for the hosts. Harder’s well-worked strike dipped beyond the Arsenal keeper in classy fashion.
As the noise inside of the Allianz began to grow, Bayern could sense that there may be a window to claim all three points from a fixture that appeared to be done and dusted just 60 minutes prior. It was Glódís Viggósdóttir who got behind Arsenal’s defence to seal a composed finish and complete the comeback for Bayern Munich.
The victory at home leaves Bayern in sixth place in the league phase standings. As for the holders, the loss sees them fall to 11th place and out of the qualification spots.
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Klara Bühl the star for Bayern Munich
Where much of the blame for this result can fall on the shoulder’s of a bottling Arsenal, Bayern Munich still found it in themselves to complete the dramatic turnaround – and it was Klara Bühl that steered the ship.
With the pace to make light work of the usually formidable Emily Fox, and the composure to split open the Arsenal last line with the ball at her feet, Bühl was electric. Picking up three assists to carry her side to victory, it is no wonder that this German star had every club in Europe banging on her door last summer.
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Slegers to blame for Arsenal’s dramatic fall off
With the game under complete control, it was the dugout which caused Arsenal to throw away a result which should have been routine. Renée Slegers opted to make the same routine changes she made in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw to Chelsea last weekend in the WSL, however this time, the side needed to solidify a result rather than chase one. The decision to omit Stina Blackstenius and Caitlin Foord was a brainless one, as Arsenal’s finishing wingers Chloe Kelly and Olivia Smith are both operating at minimal fitness and provided no relief tracking back.
The decision to bring on Frida Maanum against Chelsea was one which saved Arsenal’s game, as the Norwegian midfielder pressed forward and catalysed Arsenal’s attacking threat. However, the decision to bring her on in attempt to consolidate a result was brainless, to no fault of the player’s own. Slegers’ decision to give everyone a go meant that Arsenal’s structure was completely dismembered, and they payed the ultimate price.