Bayern Munich 3-2 Arsenal: Pernille Harder inspires Bavarians to comeback win over stuttering Gunners in Women’s Champions League | Football News
Arsenal’s WSL frustrations transferred to European action as Renee Slegers’ side squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Bayern Munich in the Women’s Champions League.
The Gunners were left aggrieved after some controversial refereeing decisions cost them all three points against Chelsea last time out, but used that disappointment to fuel a convincing first-half performance at the Allianz Arena.
Goals from Emily Fox and Mariona Caldentey put the visitors in a dominant position, but a superb second-half comeback inspired by Pernille Harder saw the European champions succumb to a second defeat in three Champions League games.
Glodis Viggosdottir produced a superb second-half comeback
Slegers said before the match that despite frustrations with how the game against Chelsea went, she was happy with the performance which led to her naming an unchanged XI against the German champions.
The move paid off almost immediately as Fox was able to follow a Beth Mead shot to head past Maria Grohs to give the visitors the lead inside the first five minutes.
Emily Fox gave Arsenal the perfect start against Bayern Munich
Caldentey doubled the advantage with a superb strike from the edge of the box as the WSL side appeared to be in complete control.
It proved to be a tale of two halves, with Bayern coming out the more intense of the two after the break. Jose Barcala’s changes turned the game around, with substitutes Alara Sehitler and Harder scoring both goals to restore parity with a quarter to go.
Mariona Caldentey’s effort from the edge of the box doubled Arsenal’s lead
Harder’s goal, an incredible close-range volley headed into the top corner, left Arsenal on the ropes. The final blow would be dealt by Munich captain Glodis Perla Viggosdottir, who slipped in at the near post to convert Klara Buhl’s cross.
Arsenal’s second-half capitulation leaves them with just three points from as many Champions League matches, making their chances of finishing in the top four of the league stage and qualifying for the quarter-finals almost impossible.
“Arsenal must manage direct play better”
Arsenal chief Renee Slégers speaking with Disney+ after the match:
“I think we did a lot of really good things with the ball. I think we caused problems in their low build and our high pressing worked really well.
“When our press was broken once or twice, we all reacted. In the second half we said they would probably do something different because they are 2-0 down at home.
“That’s what they did. I think that’s what changed the game in the second half. They played more of a long ball-second ball game and put up high numbers. We didn’t handle that well enough. It’s not good enough.
“It was very transitional. It became physically demanding. If you let them play their game with the long ball behind and the second balls, and they did it very well because they had all the numbers around.
“I think we lacked a little bit of energy and physicality in those moments. I think the game was played to their strengths in the second half. But at the same time we have to manage these things because it’s football too. I know we can manage these things, but we didn’t do it well enough tonight.
“I’m sure the players will watch the game, as they usually do. The coaches, of course, are watching the game, then we’ll travel tomorrow, then we’ll be back the next day to start preparing for Tottenham.”
Barcala: ‘We have to be honest with ourselves despite our return’
Bayern Munich chief Jose Barcala speaking with Disney+ after the match:
“It was clearly a half for both teams. In the first half we had some problems overcoming the high pressure from Arsenal which took us out of the game. Conceding both goals left us under pressure with a lot of doubts.
“We made some adjustments at halftime. Clearly, in the second half we presented different solutions.
“We kept the six in the base and we tried to create an overload inside. The pocket players took the space behind and found more solutions in a more direct way.
“We were calmer with the ball. More clinical. We found the free players and Arsenal lowered their intensity with their pressing.
“Even though we won, we have to be honest in our analysis. We have to see what happened in the first half. We can’t just think everything was wonderful. We have to correct a lot of things.”