FC Bayern Munich missed a crucial opportunity to secure a victory in the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage, drawing 2-2 with Real Madrid at the Sportpark Unterhaching in a match defined by missed chances and defensive lapses.
Real Madrid strikes early before Bayern responds
José Barcala had issued a precautionary warning, well aware of what awaited the FC Bayern team on this Champions League evening, stating that Real Madrid possesses the quality to become dangerous through individual actions, can press high, and apply pressure in various ways. But that his players would receive such firsthand instructional material from such close proximity right at the start before 6,239 spectators in the Sportpark Unterhaching? And in this manner? In the 7th minute, the ball landed at Linda Caicedo, the still only 21-year-old Colombian who had already caused the football world to marvel at the World Cup three years ago. Linda Dallmann positioned herself in front of her, and Stine Ballisager hurried to help, arriving more behind than beside her. Caicedo did not have much space, but it almost seemed as if Caicedo was just waiting until her opponents had gathered before she danced briefly with the ball, pulled toward the left baseline, and then zipped a cross into the penalty area. Athenea del Castillo slipped into it, and Bayern goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic had no chance. The encounter marked the first official meeting between the two clubs since Real Madrid officially entered women’s football in 2020 by acquiring CD Tacón, and featured various reunions with former colleagues at the DFB (Merle Frohms, Sara Däbritz) and at FCB (Däbritz, Arianna Caruso, Lineth Beerensteyn).
Real Madrid vs FC Bayern | Possible lineups [@BILD] pic.twitter.com/yno988tjEb
Bayern tried to find an immediate response through Klara Bühl. The winger created openings in the 14th and 20th minutes with her signature runs, but found no teammates waiting in the center. Real Madrid extended their lead following a wide free-kick from Caruso. Pernille Harder cleared an initial threat off the line, but Maria Mendez directed the ball toward the goal before Beerensteyn bundled it past Mahmutovic to make it 2-0.
Set pieces and tactical shifts change the momentum
Bayern found a lifeline in the 30th minute through a standard set piece. Following a corner delivered by Bühl, Edna Imade reacted quickest to cut the deficit to 1-2. Munich controlled large stretches of the first half, though penalty appeals were waved away by officials just before halftime when Méndez appeared to handle the ball inside the area.
The equalizer arrived five minutes into the second half. Merle Frohms parried a shot from Dallmann, but failed to secure the ball cleanly. Momoko Tanikawa reacted fastest, gathering the rebound on her left foot and slotting it into the corner in the 52nd minute to level the score at 2-2. Bayern dominated the subsequent phases of the match, applying heavy pressure on the visitors’ backline.
Late missed opportunities seal a frustrating draw
Bayern’s failure to convert late dominance into goals proved decisive. Imade missed a close-range opportunity inside the box that Frohms managed to block with her foot, and Sophie Proost struck the outside of the post in the dying moments of the fixture. The draw leaves Bayern with four points from their opening three games in the league phase, having previously drawn 2-2 with Manchester City and defeated Benfica 3-0.
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