UEFA Women’s Champions League: Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich | OneFootball

Kickoff: 10:30am ET/7:30am PT @ Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, SpainBroadcast on ESPN Deportes (Español); Streaming on Paramount+Teams tied 1-1 on aggregate

First Leg, First Half Summary

Bayern’s game plan was to hit Barcelona on the counter. Their first attack arrived in the seventh minute from a passing pattern between Franziska Kett, Klara Bühl and Pernille Harder. Harder’s movement tricked the defender, but she scuffed the shot.

Then just over a minute later, Barcelona had the lead. The move spanned most of the team and the full width of the pitch by the time Esmee Brugts crossed to Ewa Pajor, who snuck past her marker to clinically finish. The hosts remained pinned back by their opponents, breaking out only occasionally.

Glódís Viggósdóttir rangy pass found her left-back high and wide; Kett’s shot, though, was comfortably saved. Kett again tested Cata Coll’s palms shortly before half-time; the Spanish number one did well to parry the ball out for a corner.

First Leg, Second Half Summary

Barça rushed out of the blocks into the second half, hitting the post via Brugts. The Dutch striker should have done better, given how much space she had.

Bayern’s equalizer came twenty minutes from time, following an excellent move. The Bühl, Harder and Kett triangle was in force again, all rotating positions and escaping their markers. By the end of the move, Kett was in the centre of the box and slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.

Kett’s last contribution came in the 79th minute as she received a red card for pulling Salma Paralluelo’s hair. Naturally, Bayern sat back for the remaining ten minutes, facing a barrage of shots, notably from Mapi Leon and Paralluelo. 

Second Leg Thoughts

Bayern will face a tough task trying to get the better of Barcelona at Camp Nou. In order to stop their hosts, the German side needs to keep Mapi León quiet. The centre back attempted 116 passes, only second to midfielder Patri Guijarro (121). León positions herself like an extra midfielder and is often the recycle point. Leon’s passing quality is elite, comfortably punching passes through lines and finding her teammates. 

In the second half, Barcelona crossed the ball thirty times, preying on a weakness that other teams have seen in Bayern. José Barcala prioritises the attacking qualities of his full-backs, which creates space in the wide areas for Barcelona. Brugts and Caroline Graham Hansen’s crosses came from deeper central areas, while two runners from midfield or fullback would occupy anyone trying to block the cross.

One of Bayern’s best opportunities came from quickly moving the ball from right to left. Barcelona press in numbers and high up the pitch, leading to the occasional dangerous crossfield pass, especially against Bayern’s forward-thinking left-hand side. Georgia Stanway and Viggósdóttir are Bayern’s two best long passers. If the pair can get on the ball, they will be vital in breaking the Barcelona press and disjointing their lines.