Key events
47 min: Remember, no away goals in this season’s competition, but 1-1 would certainly be a handy scoreline to take back to north London. The second leg is next Wednesday at the Emirates, in case you don’t get have it in your diaries.
Peeeeeeep! And we’re underway again in Germany.
Arsenal’s players are crowded round in a huddle after coming back out at the Allianz. Interestingly it’s Williamson, not captain Little, that is barking instructions to the group.
Schüller, Bayern’s goalscorer, is interviewed at half-time, which is quite fun. She thinks Bayern have played well, but is disappointed she didn’t score more than one.
Half-time: Bayern Munich 1-0 Arsenal
Arsenal have been bright in phases, but could also be two or three goals down.
44 min: Ohhhhh, it should be 2-0! Schüller goes clear once again, but can only poke her effort wide. I say wide, it was a couple of inches of the target, and Arsenal’s defence breathe a collective sigh of relief.
42 min: Arsenal need to re-group. They need half-time.
40 min: That’s been coming! Both sides have had chances, but Bayern have finished this half the stronger, and probably deserve their lead. Schüller’s 14th goal of the season – she has really stepped up with Dallmann out through injury.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-0 Arsenal (Schüller 38)
What a header this is! Schüller feeds Rall on the right wing, the full-back crosses high into the box, and Schüller climbs over Wienroither to head into the top corner! Zinsberger didn’t have a chance on her return to Bayern! The home side lead!
35 min: Our first lull in the game! It’s been a breathless first 35 minutes, and either side could have had the lead.
32 min: Foord has switched to the right, as Arsenal try to overwhelm Hansen on her Champions League debut for Bayern. Foord is far and away Arsenal’s most creative player so far, but hasn’t quite been on the same wavelength as Blackstenius.
30 min: This is a good spell for Bayern. Captain Magull is asserting herself in midfield.
27 min: More Arsenal sloppiness, as Rafaelle lets a pass through to Schüller. This time the Bayern striker has more time to steady herself as she dribbles into the Arsenal box, but can only fire straight at Zinsberger, who protects her near post well.
25 min: Arsenal are getting a little sloppy, both with and without the ball. Schüller releases Hansen to the Arsenal byline but the full-backs cross is poor. Maanum can’t keep the ball on a promising Arsenal attack. Foord gets a little lucky in failing to clear a Bayern free kick into the box, with it running through for a goal kick.
22 min: Bayern break and Schüller has a chance! The striker latches onto a lofted through ball, and chooses to take the shot early, with Williamson coming across to cover. Her effort curls wide, with Zinsberger untroubled. Might Schüller have tried to take on Williamson, rather than shoot from 25 yards?
19 min: Great save from Grohs! Arsenal break with Blackstenius down the right. The striker pulls it back towards Maanum but Bayern’s keeper falls bravely at the feet of the Norwegian, and collects the second ball with Little lurking. Arsenal are getting closer.
16 min: Maritz and Wienroither are playing very high as Arsenal’s full-backs, almost as wingers, and Bayern’s midfield are pinned back. Eidevall certainly seems to be winning the tactical battle so far.
14 min: Nervy moments for Bayern, with Viggósdóttir seemingly the only player who is keeping her cool. Foord, McCabe and Maanum are really putting the hosts under pressure.
12 min: Will be interesting to see if Blackstenius will remain as Arsenal’s main striker now that Jodie Taylor has joined. Certainly the Swede will continue lead the line in the Champions League. She’s no Miedema, but then who is?
10 min: Chance for Blackstenius! Foord is once again Arsenal’s chief threat, and whips a great ball across goal. Blackstenius can only direct her header well over the bar. But that was a great chance. Arsenal are slowly becoming the dominant side here. Jonas Eidevall will be delighted.
8 min: Penalty shout for Arsenal! Foord darts in from the left flank and unleashes a fierce drive towards goal. Viggósdóttir makes the block with her arm and Arsenal’s players appeal for a penalty, but the Icelandic defender is judged to have her arm in a natural position. I’ve seen them given! Remember we do have VAR in this game.
6 min: Arsenal have survived the early onslaught and finally begun to string together a few passes. Little showing a bit of experience to put her foot on the ball and take the sting out of the game.
3 min: What a start from the hosts. Arsenal haven’t had a kick in the opening minutes. Frenetic and frantic stuff, and Martiz concedes a free kick after a clumsy challenge on Schüller.
1 min: Bayern so nearly scored twice in the opening minute. Williamson makes two outstanding blocks to stop two separate attacks, the latter set up by a crunching tackle by Stanway on Wälti in midfield. The Bayern midfielder found Lohmann but the winger couldn’t find a way past Williamson, who got a crucial block in on her own six-yard line.
Peeeeeeeep! We’re off!
Here come the teams! Bayern are donning their black kit, while Arsenal are wearing their home strip, red shirt, white shorts, red socks.
The Allianz Stadium is not quite full, but a great atmosphere in Munich, with England manager Sarina Wiegman among those watching on.
Roma v Barcelona is tonight’s other Champions League’s quarter-final first leg, with Lyon v Chelsea and PSG v Wolfsburg taking place tomorrow.
Just over 10 minutes to go until kick-off. Give the Women’s Football Weekly podcast a listen, if you fancy, particularly the Champions League bit about 30 minutes in.
The first knockout stage of the Champions League used be known as ‘The Round of Arsenal’, with the men’s team famous for their last-16 exits. The women’s side have fallen at the quarter-finals in their last three campaigns, while Bayern reached the last four in 2020-21, beaten by Chelsea 5-3 on aggregate.
The homes side’s form is scary: 12 straight wins in all competitions, but have German internationals Giulia Gwinn and Linda Dallmann absent through injuries.
If you haven’t already read Jonathan Liew’s interview with Georgia Stanway, you can do so here.
Let’s unpack the teams a little. Lea Schüller will lead the line for Bayern, but will be ably supported by Stanway, who is joined in midfield by Sarah Zadrazil and captain Lina Magull.
Arsenal haven’t played a game since a 4-0 win over Reading on 12 March, so are well rested. Leah Williamson played in midfield that day, even bagging herself a goal, but falls back into her more familiar role of centre-back, with Lotte Wubben-Moy dropping to the bench.
Former England striker Jodie Taylor, who signed for Arsenal just four days ago, wasn’t included in the Gunners’ Champions League squad, so isn’t involved.
Team news
Preamble
Oh my. What a first leg we have for you. Two of the world’s finest teams go toe-to-toe at the Allianz Stadium in the Champions League quarter-finals. The first time these two teams have ever met competitively, and there is A LOT at stake.
Arsenal, of course, are the only English side to win the Champions League, waaaaaaaaay back in 2007, but have not reached the last four of the competition in 10 years. But even with the considerable injuries in the squad, namely to Vivianne Miedema (formerly of Bayern) and Beth Mead, they are a formidable team and despite a downturn in league form, comfortably beat WSL leaders Chelsea in the Continental Cup final earlier this month.
Bayern remain one of Europe’s elite, having reached the Champions League quarter-finals six times in the past seven years. Yikes. Summer additions Georgia Stanway and head coach Alexander Straus have bedded in well. Stanway is Bayern’s leading assists maker in the Champions League this season, and the team finished level on points with Barcelona in the group stage, and beat Alexia Putellas and co in December at the Allianz. In fact, the German side are unbeaten in all competitions since November. Eeeesh.
So, quite the match we have. This one could feasibly go either way. One suspects the Gunners would be pleased to just avoid defeat, with the intention of winning the tie in the second leg at the Emirates. But Bayern will be wary of Arsenal, knowing they thrashed last season’s winners, Lyon, 5-1 in the group stage.
Make no mistake, it is ON.
Kick off: 5.45pm (GMT) or 6.45pm in Munich.
