Bayern Women fight back to deny Real Madrid in Champions League thriller
@truenorthxi Bayern Munich Women recovered from a two-goal deficit against Real Madrid, with Edna Imade and Momoko Tanikawa earning a draw before a late push for a winner fell short. Lineth Beerensteyn of Real Madrid is challenged by Klara Buhl Photo by Daniel Kopatsch Bayern Munich had to work their way out of trouble before they could make a game of it.
Two goals down inside 22 minutes, they looked vulnerable against a Real Madrid side that punished their slow start. But Edna Imade and Momoko Tanikawa brought Bayern back, and the hosts finished a breathless night wondering how they had not found a winner.
The 2-2 draw at Sportpark Unterhaching kept Bayern unbeaten in their first three UEFA Women's Champions League league-phase matches. It also extended their unbeaten home record in the competition's group and league phases to 17 games.
Yet, given how much control they eventually established, this felt like a point gained and two dropped. Bayern finished with 64 per cent possession, 16 attempts on goal and seven corners.
Real managed seven shots and none from the corner spot. The numbers reflected the shift in the game: Real made their early chances count, but Bayern spent much of the second half pushing for a winner.
Real strike first… and then again Real needed just seven minutes to take the lead. Linda Caicedo reached the byline and cut the ball back into the area, where captain Athenea del Castillo finished to put the visitors ahead.
Bayern had plenty of time to respond, but their early possession did not translate into enough clear chances. Klara Bühl and Franziska Kett looked to create openings from the left, only for their deliveries to go without a Bayern player in the middle.
In the 22nd minute, former Bayern midfielder Arianna Caruso delivered a free-kick into the box. María Méndez sent the ball back across goal, and Lineth Beerensteyn rose to head home.
The former Bayern forward doubled Real's lead against her old club, leaving the hosts with a steep climb before half-time. Bayern needed a response, and Imade supplied it.