The FC Bayern women’s team secured an important away victory in the Champions League. The Munich team defeated top French club Paris Saint-Germain 2-1, thereby improving their position in the race for direct qualification to the quarterfinals. Particularly encouraging: Captain Giulia Gwinn made her starting lineup comeback on the international stage after her injury layoff.
There was a lot at stake for coach José Barcala’s team in Paris. After one win and two draws in their first three matches, Bayern desperately needed more points. Only the top four teams in the group stage qualify directly for the quarterfinals. The remaining teams in those positions must go through the playoffs.
At a rainy Parc des Princes, in front of about 7,000 spectators, the Munich team got off to a better start. With plenty of possession and aggressive pressing, Bayern took control early on. The first controversial moment came as early as the eighth minute, when a shot by Klara Bühl was possibly blocked with an arm. After a lengthy VAR review, however, the officiating crew ruled it offside.
Harder and Bühl put Bayern on the path to victory
In the 29th minute, Bayern were rewarded for their determined performance. After a pass from Gwinn, Pernille Harder fought her way through in the penalty area and sent a dangerous cross toward the goal.
PSG goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek unfortunately deflected the cross into her own net. The Munich team thus took a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
Shortly afterward, Harder missed another good opportunity when she narrowly failed to connect with a cross from Bühl.
A short time later, the two attacking stars linked up perfectly. This time, Harder set up the play and Bühl finished it off in the 40th minute to make it 2–0.
Bayern went into halftime with a comfortable lead.
Penalty kick brings PSG back into the game
After the break, the hosts turned up the pressure. Bayern defended with focus at first, before an unfortunate play by Linda Dallmann created new tension.
On a cross, the midfielder handled the ball with her hands held in front of her face. After a review by the VAR, the referee awarded a penalty kick.
Paulina Dudek converted the penalty in the 65th minute to make it 1–2, bringing Paris back into the game.
In the closing minutes, the Munich team had to hold on for dear life once again. A supposed goal by Dallmann in the 81st minute was disallowed due to an offside call.
Unlike in their opener against Manchester City, when Bayern let a 2–0 lead slip away, they managed to hold on to their narrow lead this time.
Gwinn’s Comeback and the Next Record in Sight
Another bright spot was the return of Giulia Gwinn. The DFB captain had suffered a torn lateral ligament in her ankle in early October and had to sit out for about a month.
The 27-year-old had already come on as a substitute in the team’s most recent 3-1 Bundesliga win against Werder Bremen. In Paris, she took the field in a Champions League match for the first time since late September.
However, the Bayern women don’t have much time to catch their breath. Already this Saturday, the top Bundesliga match against VfL Wolfsburg awaits.
There, the Munich women can continue to extend their impressive streak. They have now gone 51 Bundesliga games without a loss.
With two more games without a loss, they would tie the historic club record set by the Bayern men’s team. Under Jupp Heynckes and Pep Guardiola, the men’s team remained unbeaten in 53 consecutive Bundesliga games between November 2012 and April 2014.
In any case, following their important victory in Paris, the Bayern women are heading into their next top-of-the-table clash with plenty of confidence.