And that’s all from me. Thank you for tuning into this minute-by-minute. Head over to Taha Hashim’s minute-by-minute to keep up with the Manchester City v Barcelona game.
Sophie Downey’s match report is in. Read her match report below:
Hammarby beat St. Pölten 2-0 in Group D’s early kick-off.
BIG results for Bayern and Hammarby 🔥🔥#UWCL pic.twitter.com/3qZ2ZQq7rP
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) October 9, 2024
Here’s an email Mark Grützun-Dave sent me just after half time:
“As a Palace fan, but long time Münchener, married to an ABB [Anyone But Bayern] supporting the Ars... is hard but am hoping Palace Wo-people will one day achieve this level so we can support them here. FCB 3-1 Ars...en...al
Mark, south Lundon boy made good in Europe.”
Full time: Bayern Munich 5-2 Arsenal
Wow! Bayern Munich have laid down a marker in this competition.
Despite Arsenal’s bright start, they were largely second best after Bayern Munich’s first half equaliser.
There were still glimmers of hope in the second half when Arsenal responded with an equaliser after going 2-1 down. But Bayern Munich were ruthless as Pernille Harder’s hat-trick put the game out of reach for the visiting side.
Bayern Munich maintain their 100% record this season and will have gained a great deal of confidence from tonight’s performance. Meanwhile, the pressure mounts on Jonas Eidevall’s side. And things don’t exactly get easier from here. They play Chelsea on the weekend.
90 min: There are two minutes of stoppage time. Gwinn goes down under a challenge and we have a brief break in play.
GOAL! Bayern 5-2 Arsenal (Harder, 86)
It’s a hat-trick for Harder! Bayern Munich pull Arsenal apart with a neat switch of play and a through ball from Linda Dallman. The final pass comes from Gwinn who cuts it back for Harder. The midfielder’s first shot is saved but she bundles the follow up into the back of the net. Game. Set. Match.
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83 min: Arsenal are committing bodies forward and leaving themselves exposed on the counter attack. The home side advance through the middle and the ball falls for Georgia Stanway. Just as you think she’s going to hit a Stanway special, she hesitates and her shot is blocked.
80 min: The Bayern Munich fans aren’t letting up. The decibel levels have increased as they let everyone know who’s winning.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 4-2 Arsenal (Harder, 78)
It’s just become even harder for Arsenal to get back into this. Klara Bühl crosses the ball in and Harder rises above everyone to score another header. What a game!
74 min: The Bayern Munich fans are in full voice. Even before the last goal, they were drumming and cheering their team on. I wonder how much of an impact the home advantage is having.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 3-2 Arsenal (Harder, 72)
I can barely keep up. The pendulum has swung again, this time in Bayern Munich’s favour. A corner is swung in from the right and it’s straight on the head of Harder, who gets a run on her marker. She crashes a header into the corner and Bayern Munich are back in front.
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67 min: For some reason McCabe has been taken off. She assisted both goals but makes way for Alessia Russo. Beth Mead also comes on for Stina Blackstenius.
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GOAL! Bayern Munich 2-2 Arsenal (Codina, 65)
La Divina Codina! Arsenal are right back in this. Katie McCabe whips in a perfect ball from a corner. It hangs in the air waiting to be attacked and Codina towers over everyone to head the ball home. Quick response from the Gunners.
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61 min: Harder, who has looked dangerous tonight, cuts in on the left and fires a shot at goal. It’s hits the side netting via a deflection.
59 min: Bayern Munich are showing why they’ve won all their games this season. Ever since going behind they’ve been on the front foot and made the most of their opportunities. Now it’s Arsenal’s turn to respond.
GOAL! Bayern 2-1 Arsenal (Lohmann, 55)
Bayern Munich have turned it around! Klara Bühl does well to pick up the ball and set Bayern off on the counter attack. She releases Sydney Lohmann on her right and the German smashes her finish past Zinsberger at the near post.
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54 min: Simon is the latest Bayern Munich player to test Zinsberger. The fullback drives into the heart of the Arsenal defence and hits a fierce shot but it’s straight at the Arsenal keeper.
48 min: Another chance for Bayern Munich. The midfielders play a quick game of keep ball on the right hand side before standing a ball up towards the back post. Harder connects with it and her header bounces just past the right hand post. Arsenal need to regroup.
47 min: Bayern Munich float a through ball over the Arsenal defence to leave them temporarily exposed. Zinsberger rushes out and steals the ball off the toes of the Bayern Munich forward to prevent any embarrassment for the away side.
46 min: Bayern mean business. Viggósdóttir receives the ball on the edge of the area and fizzes a left foot drive just past the post. It’s out for a Bayern corner.
45 min: The teams are back out for the second half. Bayern kick from left to right.
While you’re here you should subscribe to our free Moving the Goalposts newsletter to keep up with all things women’s football.
Our first email of the night comes from Peter Oh.
“Does Arsenal’s Laia Codina have a nickname? May I suggest La Divina Codina? (With a wink at legend Roberto Il Divin Codino Baggio of the men’s game in the 90s).”
Halftime: Bayern Munich 1-1 Arsenal
What a fascinating contest. Arsenal were on top for long periods of the first half and made their early pressure pay with a Caldentey goal. It seems the goal woke Bayern up however as they piled on pressure of their own. Viggósdóttir’s header levelled things to leave the game in the balance with 45 minutes to go.
45 min: There are three minutes of additional time.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-1 Arsenal (Viggósdóttir, 43)
It was coming! Stanway picks the ball up about 30 yards away from goal. She stands the ball up to the back post perfectly for Glódís Viggósdóttir. The Bayern Munich captain connects with the ball well and loops her header past a helpless Zinsberger.
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41 min: Bayern are piling the pressure on. They spray the ball around from left to right and set Gwinn free. Her shot stings Zinsberger’s palms.
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38 min: Bayern are getting acquainted with Arsenal’s defensive third. The midfielders are probing and looking for an opening.
35 min: Bayern Munich charge forward on the right with Pernille Harder. But it’s an excellent challenge from Lia Wälti. Arsenal have looked strong on the left.
32 min: How will Bayern Munich respond? There was barely a sound after the Arsenal goal went in. The Bayern fans will need to get behind their team if they’re going to get anything from this game.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 0-1 Arsenal (Caldentey, 30)
Katie McCabe has been at the centre of everything good for Arsenal tonight. This time she gets to the byline and chips a ball towards the six yard box. Caldentey is arriving and the Spanish international guides a first-time finish into the bottom right corner. A well deserved goal for Arsenal.
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26 min: We’ve got a stoppage in play as Giulia Gwinn stays down after a strong challenge.
23 min: Beautiful play from Arsenal as they intricately knock the ball around on the edge of the box. The final ball falls to Stina Blackstenius but the forward has gone to soon and the offside flag is raised.
19 min: What a let off! McCabe swings in yet another delivery, this time from a corner. The Irish midfielder doesn’t beat the first player on the front post … or so it seems. Georgia Stanway fails to clear the ball and almost kicks it into her own net. Bayern then scramble the ball away to spare her blushes.
17 min: Caitlin Foord is the latest Arsenal player to get a shot off. McCabe sets her free on the left but she drags her shot wide of the near post.
16 min: Arsenal are pressing high. They sense tonight could be a chance to bounce back after their disappointing draw against Everton.
13 min: Big chance! Katie McCabe swings a delicious delivery into the box. Laia Codina stretches for it but her shot trickles into the keeper’s hands.
9 min: It’s Arsenal’s turn to test the keeper. Frida Maanum fires the ball straight into Maria Luisa Grohs’ hands.
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7 min: Bayern Munich, fresh off their 1-0 victory over Köln, are looking comfortable in possession. Georgia Stanway suddenly interrupts the passing with a long range effort but it’s straight at Manuela Zinsberger.
3 min: Arsenal are trying to get ahold of the game. Summer signing Mariona Caldentey picks up the ball in the middle but she’s quickly shoved off it and Bayern regain possession.
Kick off: Bayern Munich 0-0 Arsenal
Arsenal get us underway, kicking from left to right in their black away kit.
The teams are making their way to the pitch. Both sides will be keen to redeem themselves after disappointing campaigns last season. Bayern Munich crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage while Arsenal didn’t even qualify. A win tonight would be a serious confidence booster.
Alexander Straus also spoke about the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses in his press conference.
“Arsenal are strong opponents, whose depth in the squad is second to none. We know their quality in attack but we’ve also identified some weaknesses where we can hurt them. We’re here to compete against the best in Europe. If we believe in ourselves and produce our quality on the pitch, I’m sure we can get a result.”
Jonas Eidevall spoke to the press in anticipation of tonight’s game.
“They’re really strong in the counter-attacking game. They move with a lot of pace once they’re facing forward and that part you have to look out for when you’re playing against them.
“I think they’ve been looking really strong on their set pieces so far this season, so that’s another part you need to watch out for. They’re well organised, a good team but so are we, and while they have strengths, they’ll also have weaknesses, and we need to exploit them. We need to mitigate our weaknesses and play to our strengths, and that’s going to be the tactical battle here tomorrow night.”
In case you missed what happened last time …
🔙 Last time out against Bayern...@FMaanum 🚀 pic.twitter.com/s3metoScrw
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) October 9, 2024
Vålerenga may be a team you’re less familiar with. It’s the first time the Norwegian side has qualified for the Champions League group stage. Sophie Downey gives you the lowdown on Group C’s wildcard below:
Arsenal are joined by Bayern Munich, Juventus and Vålerenga in a difficult Group C. Read Tom Garry’s group-by-group analysis and predictions below:
The teams
Bayern Munich: Grohs, Viggósdóttir, Hansen, Gwinn, Damnjanović, Lohmann, Bühl, Harder, Zadrazil, Simon, Stanway
Subs: Mahmutovic, Sembrant, Dallmann, Schüller, Şehitler, Zigiotti, Doucouré, Zawistowska, Kerr
Die 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑻 𝑿𝑰 für das erste #UWCL-Spiel der Saison! #PACKMAS 🤩✨#FCBARS #FCBayern #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/XSBinr6HrC
— FC Bayern Frauen (@FCBfrauen) October 9, 2024
Arsenal: Zinsberger, Fox, Codina, Williamson, Mariona, Little, McCabe, Maanum, Wälti, Foord, Blackstenius
Subs: van Domselaar, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Catley, Reid, Cooney-Cross, Kühl, Mead, V. Lia, Godfrey, Russo
⚫️ 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🔴
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) October 9, 2024
🧤 Zinsberger between the sticks
🧱 Williamson at the back
⚡️Blackstenius leads the line
COME ON YOU GUNNERS ✊ pic.twitter.com/GnShbBK4od
Preamble
Hello and welcome to this Women’s Champions League minute-by-minute! Arsenal play Bayern Munich at the FC Bayern Campus.
It’s only the third time the two teams meet after their first encounter during the 2022/23 Champions League campaign. Bayern Munich won the first leg 1-0 before Arsenal got their revenge in the return fixture to advance to the semi-final.
Arsenal will need to reignite that fighting spirit if they’re to win tonight. The away side haven’t quite struggled this season but they’ve been far from their blistering best. One win and two draws, including a stalemate with Everton over the weekend, leave Jonas Eidevall’s team sixth in the Women’s Super League Game.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich are first in the Frauen-Bundesliga, winning all five of their games and scoring 18 goals in the process. Alexander Straus’ team are match fit and raring to go as the Frauen-Bundesliga started almost a month before the WSL. Will that have any bearing on proceedings tonight?
Let’s wait and see. Kick off is at 5:45pm. Keep refreshing this page for updates and feel free to send me an email if you have any thoughts you’d like to share.
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