Arsenal's defence of their Champions League title faltered as Bayern Munich staged a remarkable comeback to win 3-2 at the Allianz Arena. Despite leading by two goals at halftime, Arsenal couldn't hold
on. Alara Sehitler and Pernille Harder came off the bench to level the score before Glodis Viggosdottir netted the decisive goal in the 86th minute.
In the early stages, Arsenal seemed in control. They took the lead just five minutes into the match when Emily Fox headed in after Beth Mead's shot was parried. Mariona Caldentey extended their advantage with a superb strike into the top-right corner, capitalising on Stine Ballisager's defensive error in the 23rd minute.
Bayern Munich showed resilience, reducing the deficit in the 67th minute. Sehitler scored from close range after a well-executed team move, just five minutes after entering the pitch. This goal ignited Bayern's comeback, with Harder equalising with a brilliant finish beyond Daphne van Domselaar ten minutes from time.
Stina Blackstenius nearly increased Arsenal's lead three minutes after Caldentey's goal but narrowly missed Katie McCabe’s cross from the left. Although Jose Barcala’s team improved after halftime, they initially struggled to challenge Van Domselaar. However, Alessia Russo’s long-range effort kept Maria Luisa Grohs alert at Bayern’s end.
The match saw more late drama as Bayern captain Viggosdottir completed their turnaround by finishing Klara Buhl's delivery for her third assist of the game. Buhl was instrumental throughout, creating six chances and delivering four crosses while also completing three dribbles.
Before kickoff, Renee Slegers expressed enthusiasm about renewing Arsenal’s rivalry with Bayern in the Champions League. However, Wednesday’s performance is one she might prefer to forget, given Arsenal's dominance at halftime. They had an expected goals (xG) total of 0.77 from nine attempts compared to Bayern’s 0.06 xG from two shots.
Bayern's Impressive Home Record
Bayern remained unbeaten at home during this group stage of the Champions League with 11 wins and three draws. No other team has hosted more group games without suffering a loss. Buhl played a crucial role in maintaining this record by contributing significantly to their victory over Arsenal.
In terms of final third passes, only Momoko Tanikawa surpassed Buhl’s tally of 17 passes with her own count of 18. Despite Arsenal improving their xG to one from 15 shots in the second half, Bayern managed to increase theirs to 1.29, showcasing their attacking prowess and determination.
This thrilling encounter highlighted Bayern Munich's ability to overturn deficits and maintain an impressive home record in European competitions while leaving Arsenal reflecting on missed opportunities and defensive lapses.
