Bayern Get Back on Track in Turin

This article written by Matthew Coates

Head Coach Alex Straus’ made three changes from the side that took on Wolfsburg at the weekend: Carolin Simon replaced Linda Sembrant in defence, and Linda Dallmann and Sydney Lohmann replaced Lea Schüller and Jovana Damnjanović.

The changes meant that Tuva Hansen began at centre back, Giulia Gwinn could return to right back, and that Pernille Harder began the game in a more central position. Despite Damnjanović dropping out of the XI, fans will be pleased to see that she was able to be named on the bench for this game, in spite of suffering what looked like a serious shoulder injury against Wolfsburg.

The Bayern XI was as follows:

Mala Grohs (GK) – Giulia Gwinn, Glódís Viggósdóttir (c), Tuva Hansen, Carolin Simon – Sarah Zadrazil, Georgia Stanway – Sydney Lohmann, Linda Dallmann, Klara Bühl, Pernille Harder

Juventus have had a perfect start to the season so far, beating Roma 2-1 at home on Sunday. They came into this game on the back of a 12 game winning run, stretching back as far as April, and they had even knocked out last year’s UWCL semi-finalists PSG by beating them in qualifying home and away, leading to a comprehensive 5-2 aggregate win. Certainly a side with pedigree and confidence.

Bayern meanwhile came into this game in a rather different fashion, looking to bounce back from a frustrating defeat at the weekend away to Wolfsburg. Bayern started the match as first in the UWCL group on goal difference over their opponents, with both teams having won their first matches in the UWCL group stage (Bayern 5-2, Juventus 0-1).

Fluid First Half

Bayern started the first half electrically, quickly establishing their dominance with a number of early chances. The slick surface from some heavy rain on the night meant that the ball moved smoothly, and Bayern’s combination play was incredible.

The first chance came in the second minute, where some good work by Bühl down the left led to a Gwinn shot from inside the six yard box which deflected behind for a corner. And the fact the right back was there shows the positional fluidity that Straus’ aimed for from the off.

One might suggest that the idea came in part due to the tight friendly match between the two sides in the summer, where many Bayern players and Straus noted their high woman-woman press. With the positional rotations in the early stages of the game, Bayern were quickly able to beat that press and bear down on the Juventus goal. The only thing missing from the numerous attacking spells was a certain conviction with the final pass. Juventus were limited to shots from distance from long balls.

A Bayern breakthrough however did not come from a slick passing move, but a set piece. A corner led to some suspect Juventus defending, which meant that a Gwinn header could be flicked into the net by Dallmann for 0-1.

Bayern continued to be on top until around the 30th minute, where it seemed Juventus grew into the game. They had a number of corners which occasionally caused chaos, and from a short corner in the 33rd minute a cross-turned shot rattled the frame of Grohs goal.

Three minutes later, from another corner, Bayern were lucky not to concede a penalty through a rash Dallman tackle from just inside the box. After some questionable decisions for Bayern on Sunday, it was nice to have benefited from some luck.

The teams in the final stages of the half were even, with Juventus racking up their attacking statistics with some speculative long shots to make it seem a more even first half than the play would suggest. Bayern were certainly the more dominant of the two teams with the vast majority of possession in the first half.

Confident Second half

An early Juventus attack in the 47th minute led to a gilt-edged chance for Juventus’ player of the match Amalie Vangsgaard, but the shot went narrowly wide. An early warning for Straus’ side.

The rotations from Bayern were less noticeable in the second half, with the defence maintaining positions but allowing the attacking players to rotate when needed. This stability meant that regular passing triangles could be utilised to escape the Juventus press.

Bayern’s defensive capabilities were tested again in the 58th minute, when a cross from left to right meant that a Juventus attacker was free, and a crucial Stanway slide tackle lead to a Bayern clearance.

Bayern should have been given a penalty in the 61st minute after a rogue stamp from Juventus defender Paulina Krumbiegel on the foot of Lohmann but play was waved on.

The work rate from Bayern often meant that counters by Juventus were regularly snuffed out by unlikely candidates such as Harder, Lohmann and Dallman. Crucial in a game of this magnitude.

A powerful Lohmann strike in the 72nd minute could only be palmed behind for a corner. The ball bobbled around after the initial Schüller header, fell to Harder who struck twice and at the second time of asking, she was rewarded with the goal 0-2 proving once again the value of set pieces.

It must be said that Bayern’s passing game throughout the game was regularly slick and smooth, and if you had only seen the goals you may have seen the game very differently. Stanway was key to this passing play, and often threaded the needle from a deeper position which helped kickstart Bayern’s numerous attacks.

Juventus seemed to have lost some confidence, and Bayern used that to establish further dominance in possession. As a result, in addition to being two goals up, it was clear that we didn’t need to take as many risks with our play, which led to fewer chances for both teams.

The game ultimately petered out with some strong challenges from both sides, and Bayern left Turin with the three points and a well-deserved clean sheet.

Leverkusen Before the International Break

Whilst this match is certainly evidence of a strong team performance, in a similar fashion to the Arsenal one, I would like to shoutout both Grohs and Stanway. Stanway’s reliable passing game helped to break the Juventus press and established control in the majority of the game.

Mala Grohs’ confident build up play meant that Bayern could slow the game down when necessary, which she regularly did with confidence, so much so that Juventus barely pressed her in the second half seeing it as waste of energy. It was crucial to the game plan that our keeper could do this and Mala certainly delivered, proving that she is more than worthy of that first international call up she received just days ago.

The convincing result means that Bayern establish an early three point lead in Group C. The early wins against both Arsenal and Juventus provides a lot of confidence for a better UWCL campaign than in previous years. We look more composed and focused and the fact we are able to play this convincingly in away games is extremely pleasing to see. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until the 12th November for the next UWCL match, at home to Norwegian outfit Vålerenga, as a  result of the upcoming international break.

Bayern’s final match before the break comes with no less pressure, as on Sunday they travel to Leverkusen. The place where Bayern confirmed their title last year could well prove a much different task, as Leverkusen are currently one point and one place behind Bayern.

Bayern are second, after a sensational 6-0 win by Eintracht Frankfurt on Monday meant that they leapfrogged Bayern and now sit top of the Frauen Bundesliga table. Next up, Bayern make the trip to play Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday 20th October.