FC Bayern are the first to meet VfL Wolfsburg in the women’s Bundesliga

DThe shaking of her throne is felt. For four years, the football women at VfL Wolfsburg were champions and cup winners at the same time. For them, defeats at the national level are an absolute rarity. Accordingly, it must feel strange to play a top game this Sunday (2 p.m. on NDR and BR) as second in the table. “Such situations can also occur,” says Stephan Lerch. The Wolfsburg head coach tries to remain as calm as possible before the match at front runner Bayern Munich. Lerch downplayed the fact that one point behind could turn into four and the season would then have to be classified prematurely as a failure. His opinion is: You are dealing with a tougher nut than in previous years.

To stick with this picture: The nut matured in far-off Bavaria is not a pleasure for the Wolfsburg women mainly because the opponent has so far had an impressive record. Eight season games, eight wins, not a single goal conceded: What sounds like the interim balance sheet of the Wolfsburg women who are spoiled for success is proof of the work of a rebellious challenger this season. “If we give 100 percent, there is no question for me who will win the game,” said Bayern coach Jens Scheuer. That sounds brave, cheeky and useful at the same time. Because this Sunday in Munich the question is whether a new rivalry at the top of the table can make German women’s football more exciting and thus more attractive nationwide.

A normal season in the women’s Bundesliga feels more annoying than challenging for VfL Wolfsburg given its strong team. For years, Lerch and his team have been expected to score goals in a row, dribble around faux pas and make the rest of the league look like honest walk-in customers. Unfortunately, FC Bayern has done exactly this job better in the 2020/21 season. And a new head-to-head race came about because VfL Wolfsburg achieved a surprising 1-1 draw at SC Freiburg. The hunted suddenly finds himself in the role of the hunter. Is that bad? Does that make you nervous? “The situation also motivates us. We want to change them, ”says VfL coach Lerch.

The new tension of a league that is almost chronically fighting for more attention deserves a big stage. However, given the Corona requirements, the duel between the leading teams has to get along without spectators in the stadium. The North German Radio and the Bavarian Radio broadcast it live on television. There is only limited cheering at both clubs because an appearance on ARD or ZDF is not possible despite the men’s international break.

Both sides feel that an “even greater range” would have been better. Such a sense of entitlement is justified in view of the impressive development of women’s football, which cannot be denied. However, word has to get around nationwide that something has happened in the Bundesliga and that VfL Wolfsburg can no longer acquire its fame by subscription.