The FC Bayern Munich footballers have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League ahead of schedule. A good two hours after their own 1-1 draw at Vålerenga Oslo in Norway, WFC Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Juventus Turin secured their place in the next round thanks to a goal in the 89th minute. With ten points, the Munich women can no longer be caught by the third-placed Turin women (3). Second is Arsenal with nine points and also in the next round. In last place is Vålerenga (1). Two games are still outstanding.
Without goalkeeper Maria Luisa Grohs, who was suffering from a malignant tumor, the Munich team missed their fourth win in their fourth game in the premier class. Coach Alexander Straus’ team had to settle for a draw in his native Norway. Substitute Jovana Damnjanovic (75th) initially gave the German champions the lead, but Elise Thorsnes (88th) managed to equalize for the underdogs shortly before the end.
At Bayern, Ena Mahmutovic played for regular goalkeeper Grohs, who announced her cancer diagnosis at the weekend. The 20-year-old Mahmutovic, who was called up to the DFB squad by national coach Christian Wück this week, had more to do than expected against the courageous Norwegian title winners. In the 55th minute, she barely directed the ball to the right post with her fingertips, from where the ball bounced against the left post before the Munich team could finally clear. Mahmutovic had no chance when Thorsnes headed the goal.
The Bayern women won the first leg 3-0. The current third-place team in the Bundesliga had previously started the premier class season with a 5-2 win against Arsenal and a 2-0 win at Juventus Turin. On Sunday (4 p.m., Sky), the Bayern women will play the DFB Cup round of 16 at SC Freiburg, after which they will go into the international break.
#Champions #League #Bayern #women #quarterfinals #early
