Bayern stun European champions with comeback win | OneFootball

With a big crowd inside Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich welcomed Arsenal in the highly-anticipated Women’s Champions League fixture of matchday 3. Both teams recorded their first points of the revised format in the previous round with wins over Juventus and Benfica, respectively.

The defending champions had a stellar start at the Allianz Arena as they found the net with their first chance of the game. USWNT right-back Emily Fox converted the rebound after Maria Luisa Grohs’ unconvincing save from Beth Mead’s effort.

Bayern were still patient in their buildups, which caused them to desperately fly in tackles to deny Alessio Russo after Arsenal's effective high pressing. Mariona Caldentey was the next to test Grohs from range as Bayern were unable to convert possession into chances in the first 20 minutes.

Lea Schüller, whose 100th Bayern goal secured a late victory against Juventus, attempted the first shot of the hosts. However, Arsenal created multiple clear-cut chances with absolute ease in the next five minutes.

First, Stina Blackstenius rattled the crossbar with a powerful hit. Then, Caldentey scored Arsenal’s second after Bayern’s captain, Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir, was dispossessed in the danger zone. Blackstenius, who scored the winner for Renée Slegers’ side in last season’s final against Barcelona, fluffed another golden chance before the hour mark.

Bayern had the majority of the possession share, but all the best chances were from the visitors in the lively first-half. They had a promising start after the break, though. Schüller was wrongly adjudged offside from a promising position before Jovana Damnjanović’s attempt narrowly missed the target.

However, Arsenal quickly recovered as Alessia Russo had a couple of chances to further extend their lead. The 26-year-old has once again shown her versatility by playing alongside Blackstenius until Slegers changed their approach with double substitutions around the hour mark.

Bayern’s first change saw Pernille Harder replacing Damnjanović before Arianna Caruso and Alara Şehitler also came on for the last 30 minutes. The latter brought Bayern back into the game in the 67th minute with a superb finish after a well-worked counterattacking move by the hosts.

The goal changed the momentum towards the hosts as Arsenal lost it all in the last 25 minutes. Daphne van Domselaar’s scrambling stop from Momoko Tanikawa’s long-range effort further unsettled the European champions.

And, with only ten minutes left to play, Harder leveled the score with a brilliant strike. The equalizer came right after Arsenal nearly extended their lead with a rare second-half chance. Klara Bühl had a quiet night by her usual standards, but provided the assists for the two substitutes.

While Arsenal kept making defensive substitutions, Bayern searched for the winner. Van Domselaar made a brilliant stop from Giulia Gwinn’s ferocious shot before conceding the third.

Once again, Bühl was instrumental with a pinpoint delivery for Viggósdóttir’s strike from close range. Bayern’s captain makes up for her mistake with a decisive goal to complete the memorable turnaround. Arsenal's only chance for an equalizer came from a harmless shot from substitute Olivia Smith.

Bayern will face derby rivals Ingolstadt in the DFB-Pokal before another midweek European fixture away at PSG.