The last minutes were running and there was tension in the air – a harbinger that something was about to happen. The footballers of FC Bayern had just been able to breathe a sigh of relief, the ball had rushed past the goal a bit, although it had been sent on the journey by Ada Hegerberg. The 26-year-old Norwegian made her comeback in October after a 256-day injury break, and now the record scorer in this competition was substituted on Wednesday evening in the Champions League against the Munich team. Alone, the striker did not score her 54th goal in the premier class. But Amandine Henry took over the goal in the 86th minute. And that was exactly what happened shortly before the end of the game, which FC Bayern would have liked to have prevented: 1: 2 defeat, no points in the third group game.
“Inexplicably, we didn’t show the game what we actually wanted to show. We were impressed by a strong opponent,” said coach Jens Scheuer later. “As paradoxical as it sounds, I think we played a much better second half. We deserved a point there.” His team took the lead through an own goal by Kadeisha Buchanan (25th minute), but defended too inattentively at Janice Cayman (50th) and Henry after the break – and are now warned to put aside this negligence on standards as quickly as possible.
Because the international highlight against the seven-time champion will be followed by the national top meeting against VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday (2 p.m., BR / NDR). “We have no breaks in between, where we can put our feet up and whistle La Paloma,” said Scheuer this week in view of the upcoming program.
The women from Wolfsburg also returned disappointed
Only two points separate the title competitors from each other. It is a crucial game for the course of this Bundesliga season, which will only be eight game days old, but so far has not been characterized by large gaps between the clubs in the upper half of the table. After all, it was often close at the top in recent years, and this round should be no exception. “That’s great. It’s a picture that rightly represents our league,” said national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. “It is really exciting right now.” Munich are ahead with 18 points, followed by Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim with 16. The surprise fourth Bayer Leverkusen has 15 points, as do Turbine Potsdam and Eintracht Frankfurt – so far the only opponents besides Lyon who have been able to defeat Bayern since the summer.
And which defeat may have hurt more is already certain, at least from one perspective. “The German championship is my top priority because it’s a long way to get there, that’s the most honest title,” Scheuer said these days and at the same time set the target for the weekend and beyond in the league: “We are them Number one and want to stay that way. ” The starting position of the Wolfsburg women is at least a similar one. Because they also traveled back to Germany disappointed, albeit with at least one point after the 2-2 at Juventus Turin. The already great motivation of both teams at this meeting is likely to have only been spurred on by the most recent travel experiences. Munich wants to defend its title, VfL want to recapture it.
“She is an extremely important player for us,” said Bayern coach Scheuer about Zadrazil
The fact that FC Bayern does not have to do without Sara Zadrazil – as previously feared – will further strengthen the self-confidence that the German champions have built up over the past few months. Like most coaches, Scheuer is reluctant to highlight individual players, but before the game against Lyon he made an exception in this case. “Sarah overstretched her knee against Essen and has problems. We’ll have to wait and see if she can play,” said the 43-year-old with an expression on his face that revealed how reluctant he would do without the Austrian – which he then put into words summed up: “She is an extremely important player for us.”
Against Lyon, Zadrazil formed a reliable center with Lina Magull in midfield and could also be found at all possible corners of the pitch. Only the goalkeeper position she generously left to Laura Benkarth, but otherwise: defensive, offensive – active everywhere. With her, this unconditional will was particularly recognizable, which Scheuer always demands and which will also be necessary against Wolfsburg. Now Scheuer has to weigh up how urgently and for how long he needs key players like Zadrazil against VfL in view of the second leg against Lyon in the Campus Stadium on Wednesday (9 p.m., Dazn): “The burden is enormous for some. That makes it difficult for me to stress the girls in such a way that no injury can occur. But you always have to keep an eye on success. ” And the Wolfsburg women anyway when it comes to standards.