Bayern Munich began its 2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign with a frustrating 2-2 draw against reigning Women’s Super League champions Manchester City. The hosts opened up a 2-0 lead in their inaugural match at their new grounds, Sportpark Unterhaching, but conceded twice and were forced to hang on for a share of the spoils.
Bayern started hot. In the 11th minute, Bernadette Amani won the ball near midfield with some tough pressing to spring Linda Dallmann for the counter. Operating centrally,
Bayern’s #10 played a perfect through ball to a sprinting Giulia Gwinn down the wing that sent the right-back flying in towards goal. Gwinn had Pernille Harder dropping her run in between the City center-backs for a pull-back but took it on herself with a superb strike to beat City keeper Ayaka Yamashita from a wide angle inside the six-yard box.
The German champions continued on the front foot, keeping it one-way traffic for much of the first half and hitting paydirt once more in the 28th minute. This time it was Harder overlapping for Jovana Damnjanović and crossing in from the right. City had it well-covered in terms of numbers and positioning, but the cross — which was not in danger of reaching a Bayern player — caught the feet of defender Kerstin Casparij for an unlucky own goal. The Dutchwoman was either trying to awkwardly clear it or jumping to avoid contact completely; the ball deflected into the side netting past Yamashita, who was left helplessly rooted to her spot.
Bayern looked dominant and threatened to pull away completely. But the momentum would not last and City struck back on the stroke of half-time.
With a stray blue flare on the pitch, Casparij got the better for Bayern left-back Franziska Kett to drive down the line and whip in a dangerous cross. This time it was Bayern’s turn to get unlucky with a deflection: captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir made contact but only to leave a free ball spinning on the ground at the penalty spot. City forward Bunny Shaw latched onto it first; it deflected again and fell at the feet of ex-Arsenal star Beth Mead in front of an empty net.
The second half did not get better for the Bavarians.
The first warning shot came as Bayern keeper Ena Mahmutovic committed an error in rushing out and taking out Aoba Fujino inside the box to concede a penalty. However, she redeemed herself immediately with an excellent save on Bunny Shaw, who hit her effort from the spot with power but too close to the center.
While Bayern players flagged, waning in the pressing energy and dynamism that set them apart in the first half, City began to get in the ascendancy. Chances for a third Bayern goal were there, but all squandered. Franziska Kett came closest in the 86th minute, driving forward herself and blazing a fierce shot not too far over the bar — showcasing the attacking prowess of both Bayern fullbacks in the same match.
But immediately following the missed Bayern chance, City found the breakthrough through Carlotta Wamser, the Germany left-back who moved this summer from Bayer Leverkusen. With Bayern’s right-back nowhere to be found, Wamser lurked unmarked in the box on the far side of a City foray forward. Bayern failed to clear and Laura Blindkilde found Wamser, who took a steadying touch before burying with conviction — still unmarked.
That finally seemed to light a fire under the Bavarians, who had wilted so thoroughly in the second half to that point. Bayern drove forward with some last-gasp urgency to rescue the full three points and substitute Edna Imade got into excellent scoring positions twice, only to snatch awkwardly at her chances and fail to get them on target.
In the end, 2-2 is a fair result, with both teams having good chances to collect all the spoils and having reason to come out of this one grateful for at least a point. Giulia Gwinn was named Player of the Match.
Bayern’s next match in the UWCL will be on September 30th, on the road at Benfica. First, though, will be the DFB-Pokal First Round against Borussia Mönchengladbach on the 27th.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- New, improved notifications system!
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
