It’s the sixth and final matchday of the Champions League group stage. Before Wolfsburg played for the group leader tomorrow, it was Bayern’s turn today. But they had to fight quite a bit against Benfica Lisbon.
Lohmann only hits the post
Compared to last week when Bayern qualified for the quarter-finals with a 4-0 victory in Malmö, coach Alexander Straus made just two changes to his squad tonight. Instead of Lina Magull (knee problems) and Glódís Viggósdóttir, Maximiliane Rall and Emelyne Laurent were allowed to play in the starting XI.
The 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐗𝐈 for our last game this year! 💫 #PACKMAS #FCBSLB #FCBayern #UWCL
– Wednesday, December 21, 2022
And things started well: it only took 20 seconds for Bayern to place themselves dangerously in front of Benfica’s goal. Klara Bühl’s shot, however, went just wide. It was to be another 20 minutes before the approximately 1,800 fans on the Bayern campus saw the next good chance. However, Benfica keeper Rute Costa stopped them from getting behind when she managed to deflect Sydney Lohmann’s ball towards the post.
The two teams were tied, the Portuguese had a big fight against Bayern. And should have taken the lead in the 44th minute, but Chloé Lacasse’s goal was not recognized by referee Maria Caputi – due to a disputed offensive foul. So it was 0-0 at the break.
Dream duo Stanway and Bühl
Georgia Stanway saved Bayern with a brace in the 3-2 first leg win, and now it’s another stroke of genius from the 23-year-old that has put her side ahead. A smooth pass from her own half landed so perfectly on Klara Bühl’s feet in the 51st minute that she only had to push the ball over the line.
🅰️ Stanway 🤝 Bühl ⚽️ #UWCL // @FCBfrauen
– Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Fifteen minutes before the end, Bayern made it 2-0 when Klara Bühl danced over two opponents again after a Stanway pass and then scored in the freezing cold. It’s the first Champions League double for the 22-year-old midfielder. A little later, Sydney Lohmann could have put the lid on it, but Catarina Amado just scratched her shot off the line. In the end, it was 2-0 down for Bayern, who now finished the Champions League group stage in second place behind Barcelona.
Incidentally, this gave the women of Slavia Prague no chance in the parallel game. It was already 3-0 at halftime, and in the end Barcelona sent their guests home 6-0.
Lyon beat the quarter-finals, Arsenal with a festival of goals
Lyon couldn’t lose to safely reach the quarter-finals. Juventus, on the other hand, needed a win. In the end, defending champions France were happy to progress after the two sides drew 0-0 in a hard-fought game. Dzsenifer Marozsán will be particularly pleased as she made her Champions League return today after recovering from a ruptured cruciate ligament.
👥 The starting 𝑋𝐼 for #OLJuve! #UWCL ✊🔴🔵
– Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Arsenal, on the other hand, didn’t do much and more than easily reached the quarter-finals with a fabulous 9-1 win over Zurich. Frida Maanum scored a hat-trick while Caitlin Foord netted a brace.
The results at a glance
FC Zurich – FC Arsenal 1:9 (0:4)
Olympique Lyon – Juventus 0-0 (0-0)
FC Barcelona – FC Rosengård 6:0 (3:0)
Bayern Munich – Benfica Lisbon 2:0 (0:0)
Exactly tomorrow! Then it’s the turn of Wolfsburg, who will play their last group game in St. Pölten and fight for the group victory in an indirect duel with AS Roma. There is also the sensational match between Chelsea and Paris, both definitely in the quarter-finals.