Bayern Munich Women reach Champions League semi-finals with comeback win over Man Utd
FC Bayern Munich's women's team have reached the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals for the first time since the 2020/21 season, completing a comeback victory over Manchester United to progress 5-3 on aggregate. Trailing on the night after a Melvine Malard goal, Bayern scored twice late in the second half through Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir and Linda Dallmann to secure a 2-1 win at the Allianz Arena and book their place in the final four.
The victory extends manager José Barcala's remarkable unbeaten run to 25 matches across all competitions, with the team's sole non-win in that sequence being a 2-2 draw against Atlético Madrid. The Bavarian side had to show significant resilience after a difficult first half in which the English debutants created the better chances. Malard's 19th-minute finish, following a defensive miscommunication between Vanessa Gilles and goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic, had leveled the aggregate score and put the visitors in a strong position.
Bayern improved markedly after the interval, dominating possession and territory while forcing Manchester United into a deep defensive block. Pernille Harder and Giulia Gwinn were denied by visiting goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and defender Millie Turner respectively, as the home side's pressure built. The decisive breakthrough finally arrived in the 80th minute when captain Viggósdóttir powered home a header from a Carolin Simon corner, her second crucial goal in recent weeks after a winner against Arsenal in the league phase.
The tie was sealed just minutes later. After Viggósdóttir saw another header cleared off the line by Malard, the rebound fell to Dallmann, who smashed a stunning first-time shot into the net. The result ends a historic European campaign for Manchester United, who were competing in the Champions League for the first time. For Bayern, it marks a significant return to the latter stages of Europe's premier club competition.
Bayern will now face the winner of the quarter-final between Barcelona and Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants holding a commanding 6-2 lead from the first leg ahead of their return fixture at Camp Nou. The German club's attention now briefly turns to domestic cup duties, as they face SGS Essen in the DFB-Pokal semi-final on Monday before the international break. In the other half of the Champions League draw, VfL Wolfsburg will defend a 1-0 lead away to Lyon, with the winner to face either Arsenal or Chelsea in the semi-finals.
