Bayern Munich ended Manchester United’s Women’s Champions League run after coming from behind to win 2-1 at the Allianz Arena and progress 5-3 on aggregate. Marc Skinner’s side had taken a deserved lead on the night to level the tie after losing the first leg 3-2 at Old Trafford, but Bayern’s quality and set-piece threat proved decisive in the second half.
Melvine Malard gave United the lead in Munich, but Glodis Viggosdottir rose highest to head in Carolin Simon’s corner in the 80th minute. Linda Dallmann sealed the tie with a thumping volley four minutes later.
Bayern, unbeaten at home for 13 months, dominated large spells of the second half and forced United deep into their own defensive third. They took many corners — Skinner will rue how his team defended after facing 10 corners before conceding from the 11th. “I think our nickname is set-piece FC,” Bayern defender Vanessa Gilles joked after the game.
The German side reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in five years and will face the winners of Barcelona vs Real Madrid, with Barca holding a 6-2 first-leg lead.
A step too far for Man Utd
Analysis by Laura Hunter:
The defeat can be reduced to set-piece marking but the match had more nuance. United’s first-half display was a masterclass away performance — Malard scored and might have had more. Bayern struggled to cope with United’s tempo early on. Fridolina Rolfö and Hinata Miyazawa controlled the middle, linking play, while Maya Le Tissier led a disciplined backline. United’s units worked in unison and unsettled Bayern, whose first-leg rhythm was missing.
However, United couldn’t sustain that intensity for 90 minutes. They faded after the break and allowed five shots on Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s goal. Bayern’s second-half dominance is underlined by the touches in the opposition box: Bayern 33, Man Utd 1. It proved a step too far on this occasion, but United should take heart — they look like they belong at this level.
Freshness key difference
Man Utd manager Marc Skinner to UEFA:
“Honestly, it was incredible, especially the first half. Then the tiredness and fatigue set in. Bayern were able to rest several players on the weekend and it told in the second half. I think freshness was the key difference in the end. We know we have eight players out currently; we just couldn’t compete enough in that second half. If we’d have had them, I honestly think we could have gone through, that’s how well we played in the first half.”
Le Tissier ‘fumes’ at set-piece failure
Man Utd captain Maya Le Tissier to Disney+:
“I’m fuming to be fair. Two set-pieces, it seems like every single game we have been knocked out on set-pieces; same as the FA Cup. It’s something we need to work on and it’s frustrating. The performance we put in, especially in the first half was something to build on and we can be proud. We gave ourselves a hard task after the first leg but we fully believed we could go and win the game. Everyone is just disappointed because we had the confidence to win. I don’t want to use it as an excuse. Bayern upped their energy in the second half and we didn’t quite match it. I don’t know why.”