Bayern Munich Women take on Arsenal Women in the first leg of a blockbuster quarter final clash in the Women’s Champions League at the Allianz Arena.
BAYW vs ARSW Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Time: 17:45 (CET) / 23:15 (IST)
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
Stream: DAZN UEFA Women’s Champions League Youtube Channel
BAY-W vs ARS-W Match Preview
Bayern Munich Women
Bayern Munich Women are having a terrific season, involved in a neck-in-neck battle with Wolfsburg Women for the Frauen Bundesliga title and also giving FC Barcelona Femeni a run for their money for the top spot in their Champions League group. Both sides finished on 15 points but the team from Germany had to settle for second place due to an inferior goal difference. It led them to draw with a group winner in Arsenal Women for a spicy quarter final clash. Moreover, Bayern will play the first leg at home and in Allianz Arena where they return after nearly four months. They will be understandably confident of triumphing in the big occasion after putting together a 10-game winning streak this season and are on a run of 12 consecutive home victories in all competitions. Alexander Straus' side won 12 of their 13 Champions League home games including a 3-1 win over the 2020/21 winners Barcelona this season. This will be their fifth consecutive quarter final appearance in the competition but they have lost three times at this stage in that period. Bayern will try to take a significant advantage for the second leg and maintain their winning momentum before a potential title-deciding clash in the league against leaders Wolfsburg at the weekend.
Arsenal Women
After suffering back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea last month, a 3-1 triumph over the latter in the league cup final and big wins over Liverpool and Reading with clean sheets allowed Arsenal Women to bounce back strongly in gaining some ground in the Women’s Super League. Jonas Eidevall’s side struggled this season without their star forwards drifting away from the title race and resorting to a fight for European football instead in the league. Three points separate them from a Champions League qualification place, the competition they want to do well in while being in it. The Gunners managed to reach their 15th European quarterfinal after picking up 13 points in six games. They face a strong side especially at home at this stage in Bayern aiming to reach their first semi-final since 2013. But as their manager, Eidevall said there is nothing to fear considering his side’s away form in the Champions League this season. Arsenal beat Juventus in Turin and also slew the record champions and holders Lyon 5-1 in their backyard. Due to their FA Cup fifth-round exit, the Gunners were not in action at the weekend which gives them an optimum rest ahead of this gigantic battle, unlike their opponents who are experiencing a relentless schedule. Arsenal have lost their last three Champions League quarter-finals and they are desperate to break that jinx.
Recent Form (all competitions)
BAYW: WWWWW
ARSW: WWWLL
Recent Form (Champions League)
BAYW: WWWLWWW
ARSW: WLWDWWD
BAY-W vs ARS-W Team News
Bayern Women
Giulia Gwinn and Linda Dallman will be absent for the hosts due to knee ligament injuries while Tainara continues to be out with an ankle injury. Carolin Simon returns to the squad against Arsenal, having missed the last few league games due to muscular problems. Manager Alexander Strauss is expected to keep the same eleven that thrashed FC Koln 5-0 at the weekend in Frauen Bundesliga. It means Lea Schuller will continue in her place up front having scored 13 goals in all competitions.
Arsenal Women
Arsenal women are still ruling the loss of the attacking pair Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema through ACL injuries. Winger Giovana Queiroz is surprisingly left out of the Champions League squad for goalkeeper Sabrina d’Angelo. UEFA regulations allow three new registrations from the group stage but Arsenal made four signings in the January transfer window resulting in one being left out. Jodie Taylor signed back for the club a few days ago but she is ineligible to participate due to re-joining the club after the registration deadline.
BAY-W vs ARS-W Predicted Lineups
BAYW: Maria Grohs; Maximiliane Rall, Glodis Viggosdottir, Saki Kumagai, Tuva Hansen; Georgia Stanway, Sarah Zadrazil; Sydney Lohmann, Lina Magull, Klara Buhl; Lea Schuller
ARSW: Manuele Zinsberger; Laura Wienroither, Leah Williamson, Rafaelle, Noelle Maritz; Lia Walti, Kim Little, Frida Maanum; Caitlin Foord, Stina Blackstenius, Katie McCabe
BAY-W vs ARS-W Dream11 Team Prediction
Team 1
GK: Grohs (8)
DEF: Rall (8.5), Kumagai (8), Wienroither (7.5)
MID: Magull (8), Little (8), Williamson (8.5), Stanway (9)
FW: Maanum (8), Schuller (9), Foord (8.5)
Vice-captain: Caitlin Foord
Captain: Georgia Stanway
Team 2
GK: Grohs (8)
DEF: Rall (8.5), Kumagai (8), Wienroither (7.5)
MID: Magull (8), Little (8), Williamson (8.5), Stanway (9)
FW: Maanum (8), Schuller (9), Buhl (8)
Vice-captain: Frida Maanum
Captain: Georgia Stanway
Georgia Stanway has scored three goals and provided an equal number of assists in the six matches of the Champions League this season. The former City player has also contributed to four goals in her last four games for Bayern Women.
Caitlin Foord has found the back of the net four times for Arsenal Women in the competition this term with two assists. Four of those contributions came in the 9-0 thrashing of FC Zurich in the last group stage game.
Frida Maanum has contributed to seven goals in six CL matches with four goals and three assists. She is the joint-scorer with Foord for Arsenal in the competition this season.
