Match Report: Bayern Munich 2-2 Real Madrid (UEFA Women's Champions League)
Bayern Munich came back from two goals down to draw Real Madrid 2-2 on Wednesday on Matchday 3 of the UEFA Women's Champions League league phase. Real struck first and early through a bit of in-the-box wizardry from Linda Caicedo in the seventh minute.
With the ball at her feet, the Colombian magician knocked it hard toward the byline and turned on the jets to escape a corral of three Bayern defenders-reaching it just before it fizzed out of bounds and airdropping it directly in front of goal for a sliding Athenea del Castillo. Just like that, Bayern was on the back foot, and things were soon to get worse.
In the 22nd minute, a deep free kick found its way into the box, intended to be headed from one post back across to the other for a tap-in. Bayern forward Pernille Harder managed to intercept the cross but was off balance.
Her headed clearance took it away from one back-post runner, former Bayern striker Lineth Beerensteyn, but not the second: center-back María Méndez. Méndez returned it centrally to Beerensteyn, who nodded it home to send the Bundesliga leaders into serious trouble.
Bayern still worked for chances, however, and finally got back into the game at the half-hour mark. After a well-won corner by Klara Bühl, Bayern's star winger delivered a perfect cross onto the head of striker Edna Imade, who towered over everyone to knock it in and pull one back.
From there, the chase for an equalizer before the break was on. A fast break led by Bühl resulted in a snatched chance for Pernille Harder.
Then, Harder slipped Franziska Kett behind the defense down the left flank to produce a dangerous cross that eventually arrived for both Bühl and Linda Dallmann to take a crack at goal; the first was blocked, while the second flashed wide. It was not quite squandered, but devastatingly close-the story of Bayern's night.
Bayern coach José Barcala made one change at the half, swapping defender Magdalena Eriksson on for Vanessa Gilles. It was a first half that had seen the Bavarians largely in the ascendancy aside from the two gut punches, and the second half nearly started with another: Caicedo unleashed and drove in transition in the 50th minute all the way to Bayern's box.
At the last moment, her footing went wrong and, to sighs of relief around the stadium, she could only send her shot straight to the rafters. Left to survive, Bayern replied almost instantly.