FC Bayern Women face challenging opener in Barcelona | OneFootball

FC Bayern Women begin their new UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign with a trip to Barcelona on Tuesday (kick-off: 9pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game against last season’s runners-up and three-time European champions at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.

Latest news from Bayern

The domestic double holders rounded off Oktoberfest in Munich at the weekend with a 4-0 win over Werder Bremen thanks to goals from Arianna Caruso, Momoko Tanikawa, Linda Dallmann and Lea Schüller.

It’s been a positive start to the season with four wins, plus a goalless draw away at Carl Zeiss Jena, from the opening five Bundesliga fixtures. And with 13 goals scored and none conceded, it’s been a good display in attack and almost flawless in defence so far.

Momoko Tanikawa and Bayern are hoping to begin their European campaign with a win at last season’s beaten finalists.

Bayern and Barcelona last met in the group stage of the 2022/23 Champions League. The Catalans dominated the first game and won 3-0 at home, but the Bavarian Frauen showed they can cut it at this level with a 3-1 victory in front of a then record crowd at the Allianz Arena.

The sides had also previously faced off in the 2018/19 semi-finals, where 1-0 defeats in both legs saw Bayern’s dreams of a maiden Champions League crown ended.

Get to know goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic and her journey ahead of this big game:

Mahmutovic: Proving dad wrong & Champions League nights

Opponent: Barcelona

Barcelona have been typically dominant on the domestic front this season, winning all six of their league fixtures, conceding only one goal in the process and scoring a remarkable 31 goals of their own to take them top of the Liga F standings.

Pere Romeu’s team are among the favourites going into this season of the Champions League. Last year the Blaugranas made it all the way to the final but were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal.

🔍 Take a closer look at Barcelona:

Europe's benchmark: FC Barcelona analysed

Team news

Head coach José Barcala remains without Barbara Dunst (recovery from cruciate ligament) and Sarah Zadrazil (cruciate ligament). Vanessa Gilles (muscular) and Jovana Damnjanović (calf) are also sidelined for the coming weeks. Lena Oberdorf is back in the squad after missing the Bremen game with a cold.

Arianna Caruso and Bayern begin their Champions League journey in Spain.

Pre-match quotes

José Barcala: “It’s always special for me to go back to Spain. We’re looking forward to the game against Barcelona, which is a demanding challenge. Their team is technically good and very aggressive, with players like Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas, who possess great individual quality. So, it’ll be key for us to play our game throughout, remain compact in defence and alert.”

Glódís Viggósdóttir: “We’re really excited for the Champions League to finally start. Tomorrow we’re against a really good team. We’re ready for the challenge. Barcelona have lots of world-class players, who are already impressive as individuals but above all work incredibly well as a team. It’ll be important for us to defend together, stick together and close down the space.”

Information on tickets for the Arsenal game at the Allianz Arena:

Allianz Arena: Ticket information for UWCL match against Arsenal