Bayern Remain Three Clear At The Top | OneFootball

Head Coach Alexander Straus made four changes from the dogged win against Werder Bremen in Bayern’s last game before the international break, with Gwinn and Eriksson replacing Glódís and Sembrant in defence, Lohmann replacing Zadrazil in midfield, and Schüller replacing Damnjanović up front.

This article written by Matthew Coates

As a result of club captain Glódis missing out with knee problems, Eriksson was nominated as captain. Mala Grohs made her first appearance on Bayern’s first team bench since recovering from cancer.

The Bayern XI was as follows:

Ena Mahmutovic (GK) – Giulia Gwinn, Tuva Hansen, Magdalena Eriksson (c), Carolin Simon – Sydney Lohmann, Julia Zigiotti – Klara Bühl, Momoko Tanikawa, Pernille Harder, Lea Schüller

Bayern began the day level on points with Frankfurt and Wolfsburg, knowing a win would take them three points clear at the top. The last time they visited the RheinEnergieSTADION, they lost the DFB Pokal Final. Something to put right in front of admittedly lesser opposition.

Köln on the other hand sat 10th, having only picked up seven points before this match but remaining six points clear off the bottom of the table.

First Half

Bayern responded to the atmosphere well by immediately putting the Köln defence under pressure. Vogt had to clear dangerously over her own goal in the second minute after a dangerous cross from Simon on the byline.

Bühl looked lively early on, and created the next chance. In the sixth minute, Bühl dribbled past a couple of players and passed to Tanikawa, but the Japanese’s shot was comfortably saved.

The Simon-Bühl side was causing a lot of problems for Köln, and that is where the breakthrough came from. In the 8th minute, Simon latched onto a loose ball and rifled a shot toward the near post from range. Mikalsen got a hand to it, but the power seemed to catch her by surprise and as a result ended up in the back of the net.

Bayern seemed to slow the intensity after the goal, as they wanted to establish control and possession in order to prevent the atmosphere impacting the game. Köln had a few forays forward, but the pass was often overhit and comfortably dealt with by one of Hansen, Eriksson or Zigiotti.

In the 16th minute, Bühl produced a delightful cross toward Schüller, who unfortunately could not convert. Bühl was again involved a minute later, where she laid the ball off to Harder on the edge of the box, but her powerful effort was off-target.

Bayern were totally in control of the game, which would have pleased Straus, especially because of the somewhat lacklustre first-half performances from the team on a number of occasions this season.

In the 31st minute, Bayern extended their lead! Bühl was at the centre of the move again, creating some space to whip a cross into the near post, directly onto the head of Harder, who was able to deftly direct it toward the near post, 2-0. A truly wonderful passage of play by Bayern, and yet another goal for the Danish captain.

Bayern almost got a third after an attacking corner was collected by Zigiotti who crossed it back into the box, but Mikalsen was able to make an impressive save from a point-blank Lohmann header.

Tanikawa was the next to come close in the 38th minute, after Bühl found her in the middle of the box, but Mikalsen was able to save the effort with her feet. A Bühl freekick in the 43rd minute was flicked on at the near post by Gwinn, but it was saved off the line.

The final effort of the half was after a solo run by Bühl, who dribbled past at least four players, but her eventual shot was deflected and ended up comfortable for Mikalsen. Safe to say that Bühl was at the centre of everything good in an attacking sense in the first half.

Second Half

The second half began in a similar fashion to the first, as an overlapping Simon produced a cross that was eventually latched onto by Tanikawa, but her effort was skied over the bar.

Bayern still maintained control through possession, and any Köln attacking moments were able to be halted. It took until the 55th minute for the next Bayern chance, and that resulted in putting the game beyond any doubt. Bühl was behind it, producing a pinpoint ball from a deep freekick that was headed toward the far post by Lohmann, 3-0. A mistake from the lineswoman meant that Lohmann was not called offside, but she deserved a goal after a strong performance.

In the 60th minute, Alara and Zadrazil came on for Tanikawa and Harder. It makes sense to give them rest considering Bayern’s tough schedule. In the 72nd minute, Ulbrich and Kett came on for Simon and Bühl. A Bayern debut for Michelle Ulbrich, and a well-deserved rest for Bühl. Bayern’s final change was to replace Lohmann with Dallman in the 81st minute.

The final chance of any note was an Alara shot from distance that whistled wide of the post.

According to the statistics, Köln had four shots, but I think it is safe to say that Mahmutovic may never have a simpler game. She was confident when playing out from the back, but rarely had to do some actual goalkeeping. There was very little danger throughout the game, and that was due to some competent and professional defensive work by the backline.

Crunch Time

A really crucial three points following the lengthy international break. Bayern now face a grueling schedule from now until mid-April, so starting to regain some momentum will be crucial. Clashes in the league against title rivals, in the UWCL record holders Lyon, and in the Pokal Semi-final, there is a lot at stake over the next few weeks.

Players like Bühl and Harder are so crucial to Straus’ game plans, and Lohmann has proved to be a suitable replacement for Stanway. Bühl in particular was sensational today, and that follows numerous reports that she is set to stay in Bavaria. That would be a real statement of intent from the club, showing that we are able to keep our best players, and that they believe in the project going forward. If Bayern want to reach the summit of Women’s football, they need to do it with players of the calibre of Bühl.

Up next for Bayern, they play host to eternal rivals Wolfsburg in the league on Friday 14th March.