Arsenal will need to come from behind to progress to the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League after losing the first leg of their tie with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
Lea Schuller’s powerful 39th-minute header gave Bayern the advantage on a frustrating evening for the Gunners.
Jonas Eidevall’s side, chasing a first semi-final spot in a decade, came close to an equaliser on several occasions.
Schuller was a standout performer, also chipping it wide in the first half.
Bayern’s top scorer beat Laura Wienroither at the back post and thumped her header past Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger as the hosts took advantage of their growing pressure in the first half.
Further opportunities fell to England international Georgia Stanway, who struck wide from long range for Bayern, while Arsenal’s best chance came when Caitlin Foord curled it on to the post just after half-time.
Australian Foord was Arsenal’s biggest threat on the night, testing goalkeeper Maria Luisa Grohs twice later in the second half before Stina Blackstenius’ looping header and Leah Williamson’s strike were both desperately cleared off the goalline by Bayern.
Arsenal had several appeals for a penalty waved away as Foord’s shot in the first half might have hit a hand, Rafaelle Souza’s shirt might have been pulled back during Blackstenius’ chance and there appeared to be a deliberate pass back to the goalkeeper after Williamson’s shot was cleared.
The Gunners have fallen at the quarter-final stage in their last three European campaigns but will hope to avoid the same outcome in the second leg at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, 29 March (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Bayern last reached the semi-finals in 2020-21 before losing 5-3 to Chelsea.
More to follow.
Line-ups
FC Bayern München Ladies
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 22Grohs
- 8Rall
- 4Viggósdóttir
- 3Kumagai
- 6Hansen
- 25Zadrazil
- 31StanwaySubstituted forBragstadat 90+1′minutes
- 12LohmannBooked at 80mins
- 16MagullSubstituted forKettat 85′minutes
- 17Bühl
- 11SchüllerSubstituted forDamnjanovicat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Benkarth
- 9Damnjanovic
- 14Bragstad
- 20Kett
- 23Vilhjálmsdóttir
- 27Laurent
- 30Simon
- 34Ernst
- 35Landenberger
- 36Gloning
- 37Rudelic
- 44Rúnarsdóttir
Arsenal Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Zinsberger
- 26WienroitherSubstituted forPelovaat 60′minutes
- 6Williamson
- 2Carvalho Souza
- 16Maritz
- 15McCabe
- 10Little
- 13Wälti
- 12Maanum
- 25BlacksteniusSubstituted forKühlat 81′minutes
- 19FoordBooked at 49mins
Substitutes
- 3Wubben-Moy
- 5Beattie
- 14D’Angelo
- 17Hurtig
- 18Marckese
- 21Pelova
- 22Kühl
- 59Agyemang
- Referee:
- Ivana Projkovska
- Attendance:
- 20,000
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, FC Bayern München Ladies 1, Arsenal Women 0.
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Second Half ends, FC Bayern München Ladies 1, Arsenal Women 0.
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Attempt missed. Klara Bühl (FC Bayern München Ladies) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Jovana Damnjanovic.
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Hand ball by Caitlin Foord (Arsenal Women).
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Substitution, FC Bayern München Ladies. Emilie Bragstad replaces Georgia Stanway.
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Foul by Jovana Damnjanovic (FC Bayern München Ladies).
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Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Frida Maanum (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Attempt saved. Maximiliane Rall (FC Bayern München Ladies) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jovana Damnjanovic.
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Attempt missed. Frida Maanum (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
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Substitution, FC Bayern München Ladies. Franziska Kett replaces Lina Magull.
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Substitution, Arsenal Women. Kathrine Kühl replaces Stina Blackstenius.
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Sydney Lohmann (FC Bayern München Ladies) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Sydney Lohmann (FC Bayern München Ladies).
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Caitlin Foord (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Substitution, FC Bayern München Ladies. Jovana Damnjanovic replaces Lea Schüller because of an injury.
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Attempt blocked. Caitlin Foord (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Victoria Pelova (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Frida Maanum.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Lea Schüller (FC Bayern München Ladies).
