After an intense pre-season, José Barcala’s side kicked off the campaign last weekend with a 4–2 win over Wolfsburg in the Supercup. Bayern Munich then turned their attention to their title defence, aiming to maintain the form that secured championships in 2023/24 and 2024/25.
Barcala was without Barbara Dunst (cruciate ligament) and Giulia Gwinn (knee), as well as club captain Glódis Perla Viggósdóttir, who also missed out due to a knee problem.
Barcala made just one change to the starting lineup
from the Supercup victory, replacing one new signing, Stine Ballisager, with another, Canadian international Vanessa Gilles.
The Bayern XI was as follows:
Ena Mahmutovic (GK) – Franziska Kett, Vanessa Gilles, Magdalena Eriksson, Carolin Simon – Sarah Zadrazil (c), Georgia Stanway – Linda Dallman, Momoko Tanikawa, Jovana Damnjanović, Lea Schüller
Bayern had an opportunity to impress the 57,762 spectators against a side that finished fourth last season. In doing so, head coach Roberto Pätzold guided the Werkself to the club’s best-ever finish.
The Match
In the first half, Bayern seemed to lack clear ideas and impetus in attack. After an early double chance for Schüller in the second minute, they failed to create anything of note.
In fact, Leverkusen looked much more likely to score. They almost found the breakthrough in the 20th minute from a close-range Ruby Grant effort, but Mahmutovic reacted brilliantly with a wonderful save. From the chaos that ensued, Bayern were able—luckily—to clear their lines. Leverkusen were denied a penalty by the referee in the 35th minute, sparing Bayern’s blushes once more.
Every Bayern foray forward seemed to break down too easily, and the players lacked clear ideas on how to create chances. It was obvious to everyone watching, especially the record crowd, that changes were needed in the second half.
Barcala made just one change as play resumed, with Klara Bühl replacing Schüller. Bühl has always been a creative spark for Bayern—dynamic and skillful off both feet—so it was a surprise to see her begin the game on the bench.
Bayern looked livelier after the restart but still struggled to create regular chances. The first real opportunity of the half once again fell to Leverkusen, with Kristin Kögel completely free in the 54th minute to fire a volley toward goal from the centre of the box, but it flashed wide.
Bühl began to change Bayern’s attacking play with a moment of individual brilliance in the 57th minute down the left-hand side. She dribbled past defenders and fired a cross toward Damnjanović, but the shot was scuffed into her standing leg.
Kett tried to inspire her teammates in the 64th minute with an impressive individual run from the right into the box, but her left-footed effort failed to trouble Repohl in goal.
Leverkusen thought they had scored in the 66th minute through Ruby Grant, but the goal was correctly ruled out for handball just before the shot was taken.
Bayern’s best chance of the evening to that point came moments later, when good work by Bühl created space down the left for a cross toward Simon at the near post. Damnjanović’s header, however, crashed off the bar from close range.
Bayern made a double change in the 69th minute, replacing Tanikawa and Dallman with Alara Şehitler and Pernille Harder.
It looked like one of those games where Bayern struggled to break down a stubborn defence, but the Allianz Arena crowd were about to be rewarded. A dangerous corner from Bühl was whipped to the far post, where Gilles rose highest to head into the back of the net: 1–0!
Less than a minute later, Bayern extended their lead following some great wing play by Damnjanović. The Serbian forward crossed to the back post, where Bühl volleyed into the net past a helpless Repohl: 2–0!
In the 80th minute, Lena Oberdorf made her long-awaited debut—following a lengthy absence due to a cruciate ligament injury—to rapturous applause, replacing double European champion Georgia Stanway.
The final change came in the 84th minute, with Italian midfielder Arianna Caruso replacing Damnjanović.
Conclusions
Bayern will be pleased to have faced one of the league’s stronger sides at home and emerged with a win. In recent seasons, games between these two teams have often been tight affairs, so this result gives Bayern momentum after their Supercup victory over Wolfsburg.
However, the first-half performance (and much of the second half, to be fair) will concern Barcala’s staff. If Bayern are to compete at the very top of the European game, they will need to play at a higher level in more pressurised environments. There is certainly room for improvement.
The Munich Frauen’s next test will be away to Leipzig on Sunday, 14 September.
