UEFA Women’s Champions League Preview: FC Bayern vs. Manchester United | OneFootball

FC Bayern Munich look to finish the job at the Allianz Arena as they welcome UEFA Women’s Champions League debutants Manchester United. The Bavarians won the first leg of the quarter-final tie 3-2 at Old Trafford last week.

The last time Bayern reached the Women’s Champions League last four was when the competition had no group stage format back in the 2020-21 season. Including last season’s 6-1 defeat in aggregate to Lyon, they have been knocked out in the quarter-finals three times since then.

Manchester United exceeded expectations in their maiden European appearance. Their season started earlier with a preliminary round victory over Hammarby, who are now only one game away from reaching the inaugural UEFA Women’s Europa Cup final.

Pernille Harder, who achieved her dream of playing at Old Trafford, was the star player in last week’s first leg. The Danish international entered the top five list of all-time top-scorers with a well-taken brace putting her level in fourth with ex-Wolfsburg striker Conny Pohlers.

The hosts did get back to the game on both occasions before Momoko Tanikawa won it for Bayern in her first game back from the Asian Cup duty. Although the margin of the victory is nowhere near Barcelona’s 6-2 triumph over Real Madrid, winning away from home put José Bordalás’ side in a favorable position.

Bayern are also closing on winning the Frauen-Bundesliga for the fourth time in a row after their gap with second-placed Wolfsburg stretched to 13 points over the weekend. After second-half goals from Edna Imade and Natalia Padilla saw them defeat neighbours Nürnberg, Bayern only need one more win to mathematically secure the title.

Meanwhile, Marc Skinner’s side lost 3-0 to champions-elect Manchester City for the second time in WSL this season. Marc Skinner is under immense pressure as Manchester United currently sit outside the Champions League spots.

Team News

FC Bayern confirmed that 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the historic European tie at the Allianz Arena. There are no new injury updates as Klara Bühl and Jovana Damnjanović are yet to return to the side.

Predicted Lineups

Bayern: Mahmutovic; Gwinn, Viggósdóttir ©, Gilles, Simon; Amani, Stanway; Dallmann, Tanikawa, Kett; Harder

Man Utd: Tullis-Joyce; Lundkvist, Le Tissier ©, Turner, Rolfo; Zigiotti Olme, Miyawaza, Naalsund; Park, Schüller, Malard