Women

Battling display goes unrewarded

VfL played well but lost 3-1 to Bayern Munich in their top-of-the-table clash.

VfL Wolfsburg Women slipped to a frustrating 3-1 home defeat against Bayern Munich in their top-of-the-table meeting on Matchday 6 of the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga, thereby relinquishing their place at the summit.

Klara Bühl put the reigning champions 1-0 up in the 27th minute of an intense encounter. Janina Minge equalised for the She-Wolves early in the second half (48’), only for Momoko Tanikawa (57’) and Alara (90’+5) to find the net again for the visitors, with Joelle Wedemeyer sent off in a turbulent finale.

The Green-and-Whites are next in action on Wednesday 15 October when they travel to Valerenga Oslo on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Women's Champions League (kick-off 18:45 CEST).

Goals

  • 0-1 Klara Bühl (8’): Bayern win possession in the centre of the pitch and Linda Dallmann sprays the ball out to Bühl on the left. She drives into the penalty area and places a shot into the bottom-left corner from 16 metres out. Stina Johannes gets a touch on the ball but is unable to keep it out.
  • 1-1 Janina Minge (48’): Bayern struggle to clear a corner, which leads to a shooting opportunity for Minge. Her effort deflects off Arianna Caruso and leaves Ena Mahmutovic with no chance as it flies into the bottom-left corner.
  • 1-2 Momoko Tanikawa (57’): Giulia Gwinn gets to the byline on the right and delivers a cross high into the middle. Tanikawa beats two defenders to the ball and executes a left-footed finish into the bottom-right corner from just outside the six-yard box.
  • 1-3 Alara (90’+5): Bayern make the most of their numerical advantage and find space down the left. Alara gets past two VfL players and curls an unstoppable shot inside the far post from approximately 14 metres out.

Stephan Lerch: “We had some problems in the first half and Bayern’s 1-0 lead at the break was fair. We were determined to do better in the second half and deserved to equalise at 1-1. With a little bit of luck, we could maybe have got a point today. We had a lot of chances in the second half, but Bayern defended all of them, which was a real shame.”

Line-ups and stats

VfL Wolfsburg: Johannes – Linder, Wedemeyer, Küver, Levels – Minge, Kielland (66‘ Peddemors) – Huth (Bjelde 81‘), Popp, Zicai (66‘ Bussy) – Beerensteyn (88‘ Pujols)

Subs: Tufekovic (GK), Dijkstra, Bergsvand, Saelen

FC Bayern München: Mahmutovic – Gwinn, Viggosdottir (66‘ Eriksson), Ballisager, Kett – Caruso, Stanway – Dallmann, Tanikawa (65‘ Alara), Bühl – Harder (90‘ Schüller)

Subs: Grohs (GK), Hansen, Naschenweng, Oberdorf, Padilla-Bidas

Goals: 0-1 Bühl (27‘), 1-1 Minge (48‘), 1-2 Tanikawa (57‘), 1-3 Alara (90‘+5)

Yellow card: - / Eriksson

Red card: Wedemeyer

Referee: Fabienne Michel (Gau-Odernheim)

Attendance: 12,495 at Volkswagen Arena