Barcelona 7-1 Bayern Munich: Die Roten repeat Chelsea mistakes in huge Barça defeat | OneFootball

In the opening matchday of the 2025-26 UEFA Women’s Champions League, three-time winners FC Barcelona demonstrated why they remain a dominant force in European club football. While reigning champions Arsenal were embroiled in a tight contest with OL Lyonnes, the Catalan giants comfortably dispatched Bayern Munich at home by seven goals to one, reaffirming their status as a team to be feared.

Bayern Munich, in strong domestic form and sitting second in the Frauen-Bundesliga behind rivals Wolfsburg, were missing key players. First-choice right-back Giulia Gwinn and captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir were both limited to being on the bench due to injury management, and new signing Vanessa Gilles was nursing a knock picked up in the league.

As it happened

Last season, Barcelona defeated Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate to reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. Chelsea’s aggressive pressing and high defensive line was easily exposed by fast counter-attacks and the technical ability of Barcelona’s midfield, consisting of multiple Ballon d’Or winners. Pundits suggested that the London side’s most unforgivable mistake was to try to play Barcelona at their own game, pressing high and maintaining possession.

When England met Spain at Wembley in February, they opted for a change of tact, with a relatively low block and focus on physicality and precise long balls from Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton. They won that game 1-0, repeating the style in the Euros final this summer – eventually winning on penalties.

When Arsenal played Barcelona in the Champions League final, they also followed this blueprint – not attempting to ‘out-Barça’ Barça.

On Tuesday evening, on good form and high in confidence, German champions Bayern rejected the blueprint in favour of the same approach Chelsea used the year before. They pressed high, continuing the high line even after conceding two quick goals.

Barcelona opened the scoring in the first five minutes through Alexia Putellas, quickly doubled by Ewa Pajor. Bayern steadied for a brief period, managing a spell of solid defence, but they struggled to create chances. In the 27th minute, Dutch forward Esmee Brugts extended Barcelona’s lead to 3-0 before the half-hour mark. Salma Paralluello then made it 4-0 just before halftime with a composed finish past Bayern’s young goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic. The visitors did get one back through Klara Bühl, but it was little more than a consolation.

Adding to Bayern’s misery, left back Caro Simon was forced off in the first half with what appeared to be a serious injury, compounding their growing injury problems ahead of a demanding season.

The second half mirrored the first. Despite a brief period of momentum where Bayern created a few chances – mostly from Denmark’s Pernille Harder – Barcelona remained dominant. Pajor added a second goal, and Clàudia Pina extended Barcelona’s lead with a counter-attacking goal. She then scored again late, taking advantage of a defensive lapse as Bayern failed to clear a cross. In the end, Bayern suffered their heaviest defeat in recent memory, as Barcelona ran riot with a resounding 7-1 victory.

The lineups

FCB: Coll; Battle, Paredes, Mapi León, Brugts; Bonmati, Guijarro, Putellas; Graham Hansen, Pajor, Paralluelo.