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After the opening goal, the Munich women cheered - and then got better
Photo: Swen Pförtner / dpa
San mia mia ?:
For a long time the season went optimally for Bayern. Meanwhile won 26 games in a row, in the league after 17 game days with 17 victories on course for the championship. But then came the end in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup against Wolfsburg (0: 2), the first league defeat (after 2-0 lead 2: 3 against Hoffenheim) and the elimination in the semi-finals of the Champions League against Chelsea. Within four weeks, two out of three title options were a thing of the past, and suddenly there were only two points ahead of permanent champions Wolfsburg in the league. In the event of a defeat on the third last day of the match, the third chance for the title would probably have been missed.
The result:
Instead, FC Bayern Munich has taken a giant step towards the championship.
With the 1: 1 (1: 0) in Wolfsburg, the Munich team remain clearly on course for the title with two more match days to play.
Success with a system change?
Bayern coach Jens Scheuer had come up with something for the first leg in the semi-finals of the premier class against Chelsea (2: 1).
Instead of the usual 4-4-2 he played a 3-5-2, which turned into a 5-3-2 on the defensive.
In the second leg in London Scheuer switched back to the old system, Munich was eliminated.
Against Wolfsburg, the leaders played again in the unfamiliar, but successful 3-5-2.
Not at first: It didn't
pay off at the beginning. Wolfsburg was already pressing against the opponent's penalty area, provoking numerous ball losses among nervous-looking guests. After 30 seconds there was excitement in the Munich penalty area. Several shots within the sixteenth were barely blocked. After seven minutes, goalkeeper Laura Benkarth had to save against Ewa Pajor. As a result, the Munich women freed themselves a little. The game now looked more like a duel for the title and no longer a class difference. With the first chance of its own, Munich then took the lead. After a long free kick and a header duel without a winner, Sydney Lohmann came from short distance free to the end. The ball was deflected, goalkeeper Almuth Schult was powerless (34th minute of play).
Mia san mia:
The tour was good for Munich.
Suddenly the passports arrived and the hosts came under pressure.
That looked more like a team that can force a preliminary decision in the championship fight.
After the break, the Munich women concentrated more on the defensive.
And why not?
Even a draw would have been a pleasant result in the table situation.
And Wolfsburg ?:
After conceding the goal, the defending champion had a hard time. The champions of the past four years actually only had one huge chance before the break. Ingrid Engen got the ball 25 meters from the goal without an opponent in the vicinity. But the defensive specialist neither got the ball under control nor picked up speed. So Hanna Glas could still disturb. After the break, there was a lack of willingness to take risks and, with increasing duration, apparently also the strength. What was definitely not there: the self-image of the past few years. Whenever Wolfsburg was in a promising position, the ball often jumped and air holes were punched. Pajor managed to equalize after a corner kick (83rd). In addition, the Bayern defense was hardly challenged.
Changing of the Guard ?:
Seen over the entire game, the tie was a fair result. The Munich women now have a good chance of winning the championship, still two points ahead of Wolfsburg. But even if they should secure their first title since 2016, they did not present themselves as a new outstanding team in the Bundesliga, neither in the end of the season nor in Wolfsburg. Bayern did not use the available space after the break, counter-opportunities were sometimes negligently gambled away. As fair as the draw was, the fight for the title should be just as exciting in the new season.
