Arsenal came unstuck in their Women's Champions League quarter-final at Bayern Munich as they were edged out 1-0 a tight first leg, despite controlling large periods of the game.
The WSL title contenders were hoping to continue their superb run in Europe this season, but Bayern struck the first blow when Lea Schuller's powerful header found the net towards the end of the first-half. Arsenal did respond and were excellent after the break, but couldn't find the crucial goal.
Caitlin Foord was hugely unlucky to see her curling effort come back off the post, with Stina Blackstenius' header cleared off the line by Saki Kumagi. Leah Williamson also saw an effort cleared off the line. However, it is the German league runners-up who lead at half-time in the tie with a second leg at the Emirates to come next week.
Here are the key talking points from Munich this evening.
Arsenal caught cold by superb Schuller
Arsenal had been the better side for much of the opening 35 minutes in Munich. Stina Blackstenius was causing the Bayern backline problems, with Caitlin Foord looking lively down the left.
But they were struck with a counter-punch only minutes late. Right-back Maxi Rall produced a superb hanging cross and Schuller got above Laura Wienroither to power a header past Manuela Zinsberger.
Up until then the Allianz Arena crowd were kept fairly quiet, but burst into life turning the Munich stadium into a cauldron of noise. Arsenal were up against from that moment on, with Schuller suddenly starting to give Rafa Souza and Leah Williamson problems.
It was only Schuller's second goal in this tournament this season, but she has been lethal at domestic level. The first goal of European knock-out ties often proves critical. Will that be the case in this tie?
Stanway shows class
England midfielder Georgia Stanway said recently she feels a better player courtesy of her move to Germany post-Euros last summer. Tonight she showed everyone what the WSL was missing, with an excellent display.
Stanway seems to be saving her best for the Champions League this season and alongside Sarah Zadrazil, helped Bayern get a foot in the engine room after a slow start. Up against the likes of Kim Little and in-form Lia Walti, the Lionesses midfielder had to be at her best.
But she rose to the big occasion - something she seems to have made a habit over the last year.
Foord effort sums up Arsenal's luckless evening
Despite conceding first, this was a strong performance from the travelling Gooners. Caitlin Foord was arguably their brightest attacking outlet, constantly seeming to put Bayern on the backfoot.
The Aussie winger very nearly levelled the tie only minutes into the second half. Cutting inside Rall, Foord produced a superb curling effort that left Maria Grohs well beaten, only for the ball to bounce back off the post.
Arsenal went onto create further chances, with Blackstenius and Williamson both seeing efforts cleared off the line, but Foord's was particularly unlucky. The second-half display from Arsenal more than deserved that crucial goal, Jonas Eidevall will be left cursing his sides' rotten luck at the worst possible time.
VAR fails to provide Arsenal with a lifeline
VAR is in use from now on in the Women's Champions League, although bizarrely it wasn't in effect for the group stage or qualifying rounds. But it didn't prove decisive in Munich.
This is despite Arsenal having a big shout for a penalty in the second-half. It looked just before Blackstenius' effort was cleared off the line, that Rafaelle was having her shirt pulled after the ball came into the box.
But the VAR officials decided not to intervene and there was no official review. Jonas Eidevall was quick to have a word with the officials at full-time and won't be happy with such a big call going against his side.
All to play for in North London
Although Arsenal were beaten tonight there is still all to play for ahead of the second leg. First off, the Gunners can take huge confidence from this performance.
For large parts of the game they were much the better side, controlling possession and creating more clear cut chances. The scoreline is also very much still in the balance, thanks to Zinsberger.
Bayern nearly added a second in the dying minutes, but Maxi Rall was denied from close range by the Arsenal no.1 after the full-back had charged into the penalty area. But Zinsberger stood tall and denied the German side a second goal.
At 2-0 this tie would have looked a tough ask for Arsenal. Instead they are 1-0 down and with away goals no longer a deciding factor, this quarter-final is still very much in the balance. Bayern also have a huge league game with Wolfsburg to worry about at the weekend.
One big performance at the Emirates next week and Arsenal could well find themselves looking forward to a Champions League semi-final.
