Bayern Breeze Past Carl Zeiss Jena | OneFootball

Following Wednesday’s Champions League win against Vålerenga Bayern played host to newly promoted Carl Zeiss Jena Sunday in the Bundesliga.

This article written by Matthew Coates

Alexander Straus made three changes from the home UWCL win against Vålerenga: Carolin Simon replaced Giulia Gwinn, Julia Zigiotti replaced Sarah Zadrazil to make her first Bayern start, and Ena Mahmutovic replaced Mala Grohs in goal.

Mahmutovic makes her second start for Bayern, but certainly not in the circumstances she would have wanted following Grohs’ heartbreaking tumour diagnosis. Gwinn and Zadrazil have been a mainstay in Straus’ side so far, so some well deserved rest for them both.

The Bayern XI was as follows:

Ena Mahmutovic (GK) – Tuva Hansen, Glódís Viggósdóttir (c), Linda Sembrant, Carolin Simon – Julia Zigiotti, Georgia Stanway – Linda Dallmann, Weronika Zawistowska, Klara Bühl, Pernille Harder

Bayern came into the game on the back of a convincing 3-0 UWCL home win against Vålerenga, but with consecutive draws in the Frauen Bundesliga. Carl Zeiss Jena were yet to win in the league, but maintained an impressive defensive record, especially for a promoted side.

Promoted teams regularly struggle to contain the massive increase in attacking talent, but heading into this game, they had not yet conceded more than two in a league match. A potential banana skin game for Bayern who were five points behind Wolfsburg before the game, after their 3-1 win against Turbine Potsdam.

Comfortable First Half

Bayern made a bright start, with Hansen playing a delicate pass to Harder in the box in the third minute, but her shot was well saved by keeper Jasmin Janning. It was an excellent progressive run from Hansen, who then showed composure to play such a lovely measured pass.

Bayern dominated possession, but Jena looked organised and solid defensively. Their next attempt was from one of the many corners in this first half, with the second ball dropping to the foot of Harder, but her attempt went over.

Bayern regularly played long diagonals into the wide areas, and this seemed to disrupt Jena’s defensive shape causing havoc and leading to dangerous opportunities. The most dangerous of which fell to Zawistowska, who’s shot was well saved. Moments later, the ball fell to Stanway in a similar position, but the result was the same.

Bayern looked typically dangerous from set plays, and it seemed fitting that the opener came from one. A long ball into the box in the 19th minute from Bühl was initially headed away, but only as far as Stanway.

She recycled the ball and received the ball on the right hand side, and then sent a pinpoint cross into the box, where the captain Viggósdóttir produced a thunderous header into the top corner, 1-0. It was her first league goal of the season, but she had scored in similar fashion in Bayern’s UWCL opener against Arsenal.

Due to Jena’s lack of attacking quality, it felt like a second goal could result in a more comfortable afternoon for Bayern. And that goal came after some sensational individual quality. The cross from the right hand side from Dallman was good, but the subsequent control, turn and finish from Bühl under severe pressure simply oozed of quality and class, 2-0.

Bayern’s next big opportunity came from a corner in the 38th minute. A quality delivery from Bühl onto the head of Viggósdóttir, but the effort was spectacularly saved by Jasmin Janning onto the crossbar.

Minutes later, Bühl produced another dangerous cross to Harder, whose effort was saved and the rebound was poked in by Zawistowska. Unfortunately for the Polish international, she was judged to be offside, so the score remained 2-0 to Bayern.

Perfect Second Half

After such a comfortable first half, Straus felt it was a prime opportunity to rest more players as everpresents Bühl and Harder were replaced by Şehitler and Schüller, the latter making her return following her headed collision in the game against Freiburg.

Bayern looked understandably relaxed in the beginning of the second half, so opportunities were few and far between. The first quality chance came in the 58th minute, where a lovely pass by Zigiotti released Simon on the left, who managed to dribble past her defender and release a pass to Zawistowska. She struck it first time, but the ball went over.

Moments later, a freekick on the edge of the box provided another opportunity. It was hit powerfully by Simon into the wall and was deflected straight back to her, and the second attempt went narrowly wide.

In the 66th minute Zadrazil replaced Stanway, so yet another chance to rest a key player was taken.

Following a rare attack from Jena, a quick break from Bayern was eventually played to Dallman, but her low-driven effort was dragged narrowly wide.

In the 81st minute, an uncharacteristic mistake from Jena led to a third for Bayern. A misjudged back pass was latched onto by Schüller, who drove at the goal and expertly finished to make it 3-0.

Almost directly from the restart, Bayern would get another. The ball fell to Damnjanovic on the edge of the area, who had only recently come on for Zawistowska, and she produced an unsaveable strike into the top corner, 4-0.

Yet more good news for Bayern, as Ana María Guzmán came on to make her Bayern debut! She replaced Dallman in the 83rd minute, making her first appearance for the first team since her transfer in Summer 2023. A special moment for the 19 year-old Colombian international.

In what turned out to be the last kick of the game, Bayern would score again. A corner from Simon was never properly cleared, and Schüller took full advantage by scoring her second of the afternoon to make it 5-0.

A Confidence Boosting Result

Bayern reduced the deficit to league leaders Wolfsburg to two points, which whilst important is not the main takeaway from the match. Bayern scored five goals, kept a clean sheet, and handed out some debuts. Not only that; but players were able to return from injury such as Schüller and Damnjanovic, who both took their chances and gained some form.

Straus made some key rotations and still came out with a win, which has to be praised. Zadrazil has been a cornerstone of Straus’ reign since he took over, and her replacement Zigiotti looked composed, which in her first Bayern start is impressive.

It was also great to see the long-awaited debut for Ana María Guzmán. Hopefully she can remain fit and ready to contribute, which has to be the first aim following her lengthy injury layoffs.

Mahmutovic didn’t have a lot to do but will be happy with her first clean sheet for Bayern, and knows that due to unfortunate circumstances she will now get a run in the team. Bayern as a whole performed really admirably despite Grohs’ absence, and it was really pleasing to see her supporting the team from the bench.

Bayern now face two tough games before the international break: away to Vålerenga and away to Freiburg in the Pokal. Straus’ will be hoping to take the momentum from two consecutive wins, and after today’s performance I am optimistic of that happening.

Next up, Bayern travel to Oslo to face Vålerenga in the UWCL on Thursday 21st November.