Again and again Almuth Schult stood in the way. It almost didn’t seem to matter from what angle and from what distance the footballers of FC Bayern tried, they just couldn’t get past the goalkeeper of VfL Wolfsburg with their shots. Somehow, this Bundesliga game felt like it used to: In the campus stadium, almost 2,000 spectators brought back the atmosphere that had been missing since the outbreak of the corona pandemic. And Schult defended between the posts as if she had tentacles and springs on her feet. If there was any need for proof that the 30-year-old is back in top form after a shoulder operation and the birth of twins – she delivered it on Saturday at 0: 1 (0: 0).
“For me that was the best home game that we have played so far,” said Munich coach Jens Scheuer. “I think we had shots on goal 12-2. Even if Almuth Schult held up brilliantly, a goal just has to be scored.” But it didn’t. Giulia Gwinn in the 7th minute, Klara Bühl in the 13th, Linda Dallmann in the 33rd – they all couldn’t overcome Schult, who also deflected the ball headed by Jovana Damnjanovic with a strong save (39th).
Shortly before the break, Damnjanovic appeared free in front of the goal, a huge chance, but Schult could not be overcome again. So it went on and on: Bühl (48th), Lineth Beerensteyn (50th) and Dallmann (55th / 80th) tried it afterwards. The final act was the first minute of stoppage time, when Schult first boxed away a corner kick and finally defused Gwinn’s margin. “We played a great game, but football is sometimes cruel,” said Scheuer at the BR.
Bayern slipped down two ranks – of all things through a goal by ex-colleague Hendrich
He had rightly emphasized that this result was not yet a preliminary decision in the championship. The supremacy in the league in the past few years was ultimately decided by direct comparisons between the two title candidates. Last season, FC Bayern was also presented with the cup because they drew and won against Wolfsburg. This season, the gaps between the clubs in the upper half of the table are even closer overall. Which of course can only win the league. It even does not seem impossible that the title could not go to Munich or Wolfsburg for the first time since 2013.
Bayern’s first defeat was against Eintracht Frankfurt, after the second on matchday eight they have now been pushed from first place. Wolfsburg, on the other hand, topped the table for the first time this season with the first win against the long-term rivals since September 30, 2018. For the Munich women that means not only losing the top position, but two ranks at the same time. Because Hoffenheim won 7-1 against Leverkusen on Sunday and thus, like Wolfsburg, has 19 points, FCB is now third with 18 points, tied ahead of Frankfurt Eintracht.
Two national players, only one of them satisfied: Kathrin Hendrich (left) scored the decisive goal for VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday against Giulia Gwinn and FC Bayern.
(Photo: Sven Beyrich / Sports Press Photo / imago)
It was a hard-fought, intense game in which everything looked like a goal from the dominating hosts. If it hadn’t been for Schult, the FCB women would probably have won too. And then it was just a former teammate who spoiled Bayern’s good mood: After a cross, a header bounced off the crossbar to Kathrin Hendrich, who headed in to make it 1-0 (69th). Until last season, the defender was still under contract with Munich. “I thought, come on, go ahead now,” said the 29-year-old, “that the ball would hit my head so perfectly – all I had to do was nod off, as the saying goes.”
National coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg took a close look at everything in the stands, as she has to examine a few players both at the Munich champions and the cup winners. And she made plenty of notes. As early as November 26th, the World Cup qualification will continue against Turkey and four days later against Portugal. Schult in particular is likely to have moved further into focus. “Almuth is a stabilizer, she’s also a good coach and of course it’s important for the team to be able to play today,” said Voss-Tecklenburg during the break.
Schult has already made it back to the DFB squad in previous games. Since Schult’s break after the 2019 World Cup, however, Merle Frohms from Frankfurt is still number one for Voss-Tecklenburg. And because Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea FC) is another strong candidate for the 2022 European Championship squad, the competition has long since begun. Also for Munich’s Laura Benkarth, who had no chance in the top game in the crucial scene.