Bayern Go Six Clear At The Top | OneFootball

Following their win last Sunday away to Köln, the Bayern Frauen returned home to host their eternal rivals VFL Wolfsburg in a fierce match on Friday Afternoon.

This article written by Matthew Coates

Head Coach Alexander Straus made four changes from the win against Köln, with captain Glódis returning in place of Hansen, Zadrazil replacing Zigiotti in midfield, and both Alara and Damnjanović replacing Schüller and Tanikawa up front.

It was a welcome return to the starting XI for our captain, as she managed to overcome knee problems. Bühl and Alara were both rewarded with starts after their important contract extensions midweek – both are seen to be pivotal to Bayern’s future.

The Bayern XI was as follows:

Ena Mahmutovic (GK) – Giulia Gwinn, Glódís Viggósdóttir (c), Magdalena Eriksson, Carolin Simon – Sydney Lohmann, Sarah Zadrazil – Klara Bühl, Alara Şehitler, Pernille Harder, Jovana Damnjanović

Bayern began the day level three points clear of Frankfurt and opponents Wolfsburg, knowing a win would take them six points clear at the top, with Frankfurt to play on Monday.

Wolfsburg, after struggling in a number of games so far this season, have put a winning run together, unforgettably smashing Frankfurt 6-1. By doing so, they put themselves in with a shot of regaining the Meisterschale come the end of the season. A match of real significance in the Frauen Bundesliga, with wide ranging consequences for the remainder of the season.

First Half

The home crowd was especially fired up for this match, encouraging Bayern to establish dominance over their most fierce domestic rivals – but it was Wolfsburg who caused more problems early on.

Svenja Huth sent a dangerous freekick into the box in the second minute, and some miscommunication between Mahmutovic and Glódis led to a nasty clash of heads. Glódis came off worse, and had to be bandaged by Bayern’s excellent medical team.

Bayern were sporting their special 125 year history kit, famously not sold with the Women’s team sponsor or numbers – much to the outrage of Bayern Frauen’s considerable fanbase.

Bayern began to establish periods of possession and control and they were keen to compete in every duel. It was clear neither team were going to be pushovers, and some clinical finishing in decisive moments would prove the difference.

In the 13th minute, Bayern converted their first real chance. After some nice interplay between Gwinn, Damnjanović and Alara, the latter cut inside and curled a delicate ball into the box from the right hand side. Bühl narrowly missed connecting with the effort, and the ball instead bounced all the way to the back post, where Harder was there to tap in for the breakthrough, 1-0!

It felt crucial for Bayern to get the first goal in order to avoid what happened in the reverse fixture. An early goal meant Wolfsburg would need to attack more, and that is exactly what happened, leaving space for Bayern’s incredible attacking players on the counter.

The game was feisty, and after a rough tackle from Wolfsburg captain Popp on Eriksson, Lohmann was booked for dissent. Popp was also booked by the referee for the careless tackle.

Wolfsburg had an incredible chance in the 30th minute, after a cross toward the centre of the box from the right hand side was controlled beautifully by Jule Brand, and her subsequent shot towards Bayern goal was expertly saved by the outstretched leg of Mahmutovic.

We know her skills on the ball, but it was great to see her step up in some big moments throughout the game with some excellent saves. Mahmutovic was excellent once again in the 38th minute, after she jumped and claimed a dangerous cross into the box, colliding with Beerenstyn in the process.

Moments before half time though, Bayern had a chance to extend their lead. Bühl latched on to a loose ball in the middle of the pitch, and drove forward toward the right side. She then passed a lovely ball into the path of Harder, who dribbled down the line and crossed to the other side. Simon was there to control it toward Bühl, but she unfortunately didn’t make any meaningful connection with the ball, and it was eventually cleared. A let off for Wolfsburg.

Second Half

Bayern came out in the second half with purpose. Zadrazil played a peach of a long ball toward Harder in space into the left channel. Harder managed to play the ball under pressure to Lohmann, who laid off the ball for Simon to cross into the box. Alara was there to control, and after some excellent movement she released a powerful effort that whistled narrowly wide of the post.

Bayern’s early pressure and eagerness to score would end up paying off. Moments after the Alara chance, Giulia sent her own beautiful long ball down the right side for Damnjanović to chase. She controlled the ball and crossed into the box, where Harder was there to redirect it from close range into the centre of the goal past Anneke Borbe, 2-0!

The Campus was bouncing after this goal, and that gave the team some confidence and Wolfsburg seemed to lose some of theirs – a good sign in a match as big as this.

Wolfsburg did try to respond, and almost did emphatically with a Lattwein strike from distance in the 49th minute that rattled the crossbar from about 30 yards. Hard to say whether Mahmutovic would have been able to save it, given the power it was struck with.

Bayern made their first change in the 53rd minute, with Glódís being replaced by Tuva Hansen.

In the 59th minute, Wolfsburg had their next big chance, where a ball forward deflected off of Hansen into the path of Beerenstyn and she drove forward and struck an effort toward Mahmutovic’s goal, but it went narrowly wide. Beerenstyn was causing some issues for Bayern’s defence, as she had done in the reverse fixture.

Harder on the other hand was causing a number of problems for the Wolfsburg defence. She gained possession just past the halfway line in the 61st minute, and dribbled past a number of players until she reached the edge of the box, but her eventual shot curled narrowly wide of Borbe’s goal. She was looking for a Hattrick against her former side, and was close to getting it on a number of occasions.

In the 68th minute, Bayern made a further two changes, replacing Damnjanović and Alara with Schüller and Tanikawa. And those substitutions would make an immediate impact.

Zadrazil played another lovely long ball into the path of Harder, who dribbled toward the byline, chopped past a defender and produced a delightful dinked cross toward the centre of the box. Schüller rose highest, and was able to powerfully head it past Borbe to make it 3-0. It was her first touch of the ball, and that gave Bayern some breathing space over their fierce rivals.

Unfortunately, that breathing space turned out to be necessary, as in the 75th minute Beerenstyn would dribble through Bayern’s midfield and faked out Hansen on the edge of the box, meaning she was 1-on-1 with Mahmutovic. She then stroked the ball home to make it 3-1.

The game was on a knife’s edge now, and Bayern were very keen to ensure their two goal cushion remained. Wolfsburg attempted to claim a penalty in the 80th minute, but Eriksson stood her ground and didn’t dive in on Endemann. Bayern made their final changes after that, replacing Simon with Kett and Lohmann with Zigiotti.

Wolfsburg were throwing women forward, attempting to apply as much pressure on Bayern’s defence as possible, but occasionally leaving themselves susceptible to the counter attack. In the 82nd minute, Tanikawa played a ball into the path of an onrushing Harder, who, on a hattrick, decided to chop the ball inside into Schüller’s path, but her strike was blocked by a determined Caitlin Dijkstra. A let off for Wolfsburg.

Endemann had a chance to shoot on goal as the game went into added time, but the save at her near post was made to look easy by Mahmutovic.

In the final moments of the game, Bayern should have had a fourth. Tanikawa played a threaded pass across the box into the path of Gwinn, but her effort was skied over the bar and into the crowd.

A Season-Defining Fortnight

In less than two weeks, Bayern could be only challenging for one competition. Bayern play both legs against UWCL record champions Lyon, and in between they play the DFB Pokal semi-final against Hoffenheim.

It is hard to know what the expectations should be for the UWCL clash, as Bayern are clear underdogs going into this tie, but were always likely to be when it was confirmed that they would finish second in their group.

Lyon are last-year’s finalists though, and their team is packed with star quality. Bayern are up and coming in an European sense, but if their aim is to be one of Europe’s elite, pushing Lyon to their limit would be the minimum goal. If Bayern would like to keep players such as Bühl and Tanikawa long-term, they need to be in these situations more often, and as of now that remains to be seen.

Something that will be non-negotiable you would imagine would be righting the wrongs of last year and winning the DFB Pokal – but Hoffenheim are certainly not pushovers, and knocked this afternoon’s opponents ‘Queens of the cup’ Wolfsburg out.

That is not a game to be taken lightly either. Even after that, Bayern still have Leverkusen and Frankfurt to play in the league, and any slip up could be costly. It really does all come down to these few weeks, and Bayern will have to rise to the challenge.

As mentioned previously though, their focus must be on the home leg against Lyon on Tuesday the 18th of March – a positive result would be key to increasing chances of reaching the semi-finals.