Bayern Munich Women Prepare to Face Arsenal in Champions League Showdown
Bayern Munich Women look to continue their unbeaten run as they face Arsenal in the Women’s Champions League group stage opener. Read the full match preview here.
As Arsenal Women prepare to take on Bayern Munich Women in their opening group stage fixture of the 2024 Women’s Champions League, both sides bring contrasting forms to the table, with Bayern dominating their domestic and European matches while Arsenal have had a mixed start to their campaign. Thursday’s matchup promises to be a fierce contest as these two clubs battle for a top-two finish in Group C alongside Juventus and Valerenga.
Bayern’s Red-Hot Form
Bayern Munich Women enter this match in scintillating form, having won all seven of their competitive games this season, including a recent 1-0 win over FC Koln, thanks to a crucial strike from Klara Buhl. Their success has been built on a solid foundation laid during their victorious Frauen-Bundesliga campaign last season, where they claimed their second consecutive league title. Bayern’s defense has been rock solid, and with players like Georgia Stanway and Buhl leading the attack, they will be a formidable opponent for Arsenal.
Bayern’s strong start to the season is also a response to their disappointment in last year’s Women’s Champions League, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage. Manager Alexander Straus will be keen to ensure that this season’s campaign goes better, starting with a victory over Arsenal. Bayern has history on their side, having faced Arsenal in previous editions of the competition, including a thrilling quarter-final tie in 2022-23, which saw Bayern narrowly lose despite taking a first-leg lead.
Arsenal’s European Journey
While Bayern coasted into the Champions League group stage as German champions, Arsenal had to fight through the qualification rounds. The Gunners defeated Rangers and Rosenborg in the first stage of qualifying before staging a dramatic comeback against Hacken to secure a 4-1 aggregate victory in the second round. Jonas Eidevall’s side will be eager to build on that momentum, but they face a tough test in Bayern, especially away from home.
Arsenal’s domestic form has been less convincing. They have only managed one win from their first three Women’s Super League (WSL) games, drawing against Manchester City and Everton. While they have shown defensive resilience with three consecutive clean sheets, their attack has been lacking in consistency, something that will need to change if they are to take anything from Thursday’s match in Munich.
Team News and Key Players
Bayern Munich will be without key defender Katharina Naschenweng and midfielder Lena Oberdorf, both of whom are recovering from ACL injuries. Franziska Kett is also unlikely to feature due to an ongoing ankle problem, but the German champions will welcome back center-back Glodis Viggosdottir after she missed the win over Koln through suspension.
Arsenal has their own injury concerns, with Victoria Pelova, Laura Wienroither, Amanda Ilestedt, and Lina Hurtig all unavailable. However, captain Leah Williamson made her return from injury as a substitute against Everton and could be in line to start against Bayern. Eidevall may also look to bring in Stina Blackstenius and Lia Walti to bolster his starting lineup.
Key players to watch for Bayern include forward Lea Schuller, who has been in prolific form, and playmaker Lina Magull, who will look to pull the strings in midfield. For Arsenal, Frida Maanum and Katie McCabe will be crucial to their chances of getting a result, while the experience and leadership of Williamson could prove vital in defense.
Match Prediction
Bayern Munich’s unbeaten start to the season, combined with Arsenal’s inconsistent form and away struggles in Europe, suggests that the German champions will be favorites heading into this fixture. While Arsenal’s defense has been solid in recent matches, Bayern’s potent attack, led by Buhl and Schuller, will likely prove too much for the Gunners.
Our prediction is a 2-1 victory for Bayern Munich Women, as Arsenal may find it difficult to break down Bayern’s defense while keeping their own goal safe from Bayern’s in-form attackers.
Conclusion
Thursday’s matchup between Bayern Munich Women and Arsenal Women is shaping up to be a thrilling encounter. Bayern’s perfect start to the season and home advantage could give them the upper hand, while Arsenal will need to be at their best to secure a positive result. A win for Bayern would set the tone for their European campaign, while Arsenal will be determined to make a statement and prove they belong among Europe’s elite.
Fans can expect a fiercely competitive game, with both sides eager to start their Champions League journey with a win.
