4 hours ago
8
Key events
47 mins: Damnjanovic is cleaned out by Wamser, earning Bayern a free-kick. It is pumped into the box and flicked wide by Viggosdottir.
Second half
Here we go again!
Half-time reading.
Half time: Bayern Munich 2-1 Manchester City
Mead has given City hope after spending the previous 45 minutes being completely dominated. It will be an intriguing second half after all.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 2-1 Manchester City (Mead, 45)
It is all happening! There is a flare on the pitch just where Casparij is flying down the right. She puts in a dangerous cross which reaches Shaw, only to see her shot blocked. Mead, however, is there to poke home. Mahmutovic moans about the flare but it has nothing to do with the goal.
VAR is having a look at something. I am just not sure what. Goal stands.
43 mins: Another failure to clear their lines gives Tanikawa a chance from the edge of the box but she gets under her shot and it goes well over.
41 mins: City need to be quicker in possession because they are repeatedly being caught out by Bayern’s intensity. The amount of times City have been forced back is getting a touch silly.
39 mins: Fujino cannot cope with the Bayern press, forcing her to face her own goal a lot and inevitably give possession away. I would be surprised if she comes out for the second half.
37 mins: Buhl sends in a low cross from the left which Rose sensibly turns behind rather than into her own net.
The corner is swung in and is flicked on at the front but flashes an inch or two wide.
35 mins: Bayern seems a lot more physical than City, who cannot cope with the speed and strength of their opponents, let alone the quality on the ball.
33 mins: Fujino tries to go forward but she is forced to turnaround and go backwards, which sums City up as an attacking force so far.
30 mins: It is a long way back for City. I can’t see it, to be honest. Changes seem necessary at this stage.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 2-0 Manchester City (Casparij og, 28)
WHAT A SHOCKER! Bayern move the ball quickly up the pitch, with Harder flashing a cross into the box from the right, which Casparij puts into the back of her own net. I have no idea what she is trying to do, getting her feet mixed up and pinging the ball into the corner while under no pressure.
27 mins: City have a throw high up the pitch and a rare chance to put some pressure on but it comes to nothing.
A later attack produces the first moment of danger from City as Hemp gets to the byline and chips a cross, which Viggosdottir flicks onto the top of the bar. The corner is sent over by Shaw.
25 mins: Speaking of which … Buhl drives forward on the left before picking out Damnjanovic in the box but she flashes her shot over.
23 mins: Defensively, City looks rather weak. They are quite easy to open up and Bayern are making the most of it.
21 mins: Mead commits a foul but then complains about getting a knock on her head, causing her to stop playing.
Bayern attack and put in another dangerous cross, which Rose heads up rather than out, allowing Buhl to pounce but her effort is blocked.
19 mins: Hemp and Mead have barely touched the ball here. City need to find a way of getting them into the game.
17 mins: Gordon writes: “I like to see Man City Women do well but I think they will find it tough against a Bayern Munich team who may well go on to lift the UWCL trophy this season. City have been winning but they have been unconvincing, with a hesitant defence and a lightweight midfield; Liverpool largely outplayed them on Sunday until Taylor’s team tired.
“City have lined up this season with an extra midfielder and no-one wide on the right, but it hasn’t worked. They’ve found it difficult to play out from the back, as opposition have physically over-powered Hasegawa and Blindkilde Brown; I’d like to see Coffey and Clinton playing instead, so pleased to see the American starting here. I’d also like to see City playing long; Shaw can be a good target-woman, and the tireless Hemp can chase anything down the left wing. But, in any case, the absence of Miedema and Lohmann limits Jeglertz”s options.
“Bayern handed Arsenal a big defeat in the former group stage two seasons ago, and I can see them doing the same to City today.”
15 mins: It’s all Bayern and I am starting to worry about how many they will score. City are inviting pressure on with some poor passing in their own half leading to giving possession away.
13 mins: Fujino plays a bizarre pass backwards which almost gifts a chance to Bayern but Yamashita clears up the mess needlessly created.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-0 Manchester City (Gwinn, 11)
City lose possession in the middle of the park, allowing Dahlmann to counter before laying the ball into Gwinn, who is in space on the right from where finishes clinically.
10 mins: Bayern are very much on top here and City can barely get out of their half. Shaw drags them forward and Fujino sends in a dangerous cross, at least it would be if anyone was there to attack it.
8 mins: City try to be coy when attempting to clear their lines but it backfires with Bayern hunting down those in black. They eventually get rid but the ball comes straight back at the them. More ponderous defending gifts Harder a chance but her finish is extremely weak and Yamashita drops on the ball.
6 mins: Bayern look settled now and spend a decent amount of time in the final third but cannot produce the final ball required.
4 mins: City are knocking the ball around nicely and making Bayern do the early chasing but the German side look happy to put their opponents under plenty of pressure.
The German’s should be ahead after a fine cross from the right to Buhl at the back post in space but she sends her volley wide from a yard or two.
2 mins: Fujino is fouled and looked a little uncomfortable but is able to get up after a sit on the turf.
City move the ball up the pitch quick but Hemp’s cross is claimed by the goalkeeper.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
It is a sunny evening in Munich. There are plenty of flags about inside the ground.
For your listening pleasure.
Disney have a dog in the studio, which is quite different from most preview shows.
The suggestion is that there will be 5,000 fans inside the stadium tonight.
Getting in the zone.
Anyway … my desk has just broken so this could be a dangerous MBM. I am writing on a slant.
“When I was young I never had a role model. I only watched men’s football, but when women’s football got bigger there were no really good black players. I also want to be a role model for the next generation,” says the Liverpool forward Aurélie Csillag about why she is involved in an initiative being launched by the club in October.
Beyond the Goalposts aims to give black and marginalised girls and women pathways and opportunities in football on and off the pitch. It is being carried out by the club’s foundation and wants to “create a safe, inclusive and empowering environment” by providing sessions, including educational and mentoring help, in Liverpool’s community. Sessions begin on 1 October, but people can register their interest at any time.
Starting lineups
Bayern Munich: Mahmutovic, Gilles, Viggosdottir, Gwinn, Damnjanovic, Dallmann, Amani, Buhl, Tanikawa, Kett, Harder
Subs: Klink, Ballisager, Potsi, Mattner, Alara, Naschenweng, Proost, Zadrazil, Dunst, Edna, Kappes
Man City: Yamashita, Casparij, Rose, Greenwood, Wamser, Coffey, Hasegawa, Fujino, Mead, Shaw, Hemp
Subs: Cumings, Moorhouse, Clinton, Fowler, Blindkilde Brown, Prior, Lewis, Burdon
The great Tom Garry takes you through the runners and riders in this year’s Women’s Champions League.
Preamble
The Women’s Champions League is back! Manchester City are in Germany to play Bayern Munich, which is a testing start for the WSL winners. These two a tipped to go a long way in the competition, so it will be a fine examination of one another’s credentials.
City have started the domestic season with three wins in a row and an impressive 11 goals. If they can transfer that momentum into European success, it will be a notable achievement because Bayern have notched five straight victories already.
Let’s hope for a classic!
Kick-off: 5.45pm BST
