The FC Bayern women’s team secured their first victory of the UEFA Women’s Champions League season on Wednesday night, defeating Benfica 3-0 at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. After opening their European campaign with a 2-2 draw against Manchester City, head coach José Barcala’s side capitalized on a dominant second-half surge to claim three crucial points in the standings.
A Scrappy First Half in Lisbon
For the opening 45 minutes, the German double winners struggled to break down a resolute Portuguese defense. Benfica, entering the fixture on the back of a 2-1 victory over Juventus, kept the visitors largely at bay in a balanced first half. Bayern goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic was forced into action just past the half-hour mark, stretching to deny a dangerous effort from Benfica’s Fröya Dorsin.
Second-Half Breakthrough
The deadlock finally broke in the 74th minute when Bühl struck from distance, her shot glancing in off the inside of the post to put Bayern ahead. The breakthrough shifted the momentum entirely to the German side. Pernille Harder doubled the lead just six minutes later in the 80th minute, extinguishing any hopes of a Benfica comeback. Franziska Kett capped off the evening in the 88th minute, with the 21-year-old firing home to seal the 3-0 final scoreline.
Post-Match Reaction and Next Steps
Reflecting on the hard-fought nature of the victory, Bühl admitted the team had to dig deep in the Portuguese capital. »Today we really had to put in all the energy we had,« Bühl told ZDF after the whistle. »A 3-0 looks very, very good indeed, and we gladly take the three points.« With four points from their opening two matches, Bayern sit fourth in the Champions League table. The team returns to continental action on October 28, when they host Real Madrid at home before subsequent fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain, Austria Wien, and defending champions Barcelona.
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