Last-minute equalizer from AS Roma
FC Bayern squandered their dream start in the Champions League
November 15, 2023, 11:07 p.m
Until shortly before the end, it looked as if FC Bayern’s footballers would start the group phase of the Champions League victorious. But then AS Roma managed to equalize in almost the last minute. Before that, Munich’s opening goal sparked discussions.
Bayern Munich’s footballers lost an opening win in their difficult Champions League group. In the duel between the title holders from Germany and Italy, coach Alexander Straus’ team gave up a two-goal lead against AS Roma and had to be content with a 2:2 (2:0) in front of 2,500 fans at the FC Bayern campus .
In a largely even game, Munich took the lead in the 21st minute from a standard situation. Katharina Naschenweng sent a free-kick cross from the half field into the penalty area, where Bayern captain Glodis Viggosdottir extended the ball with her shoulder to the feet of Jovana Damnjanovic, who easily slotted in.
The Romans, driven by the ex-Munich women Saki Kumagai and Laura Feiersinger, kept up well, but initially missed their better opportunities. That took revenge. Shortly before the half-time whistle, Naschenweng finished powerfully and the ball, which was deflected twice, flew into the net to make it 2-0. Rome’s central defender Elena Linari appeared in the statistics as the (own) goalscorer (45th + 4 minutes).
Lohmann misses the chance to make a decision
After the break, Evelyne Viens (58th) brought the Romans close again after a quick switch game. The game went back and forth as a result. Sydney Lohmann could have calmed the FCB fans’ nerves, but Roma defender Moeka Minami made a sensational clearance off the line (85′). Then Manuela Giugliano (90.+1) ice-coldly equalized for Roma.
In the strong Group C, in addition to Rome, the top French team Paris St. Germain and Ajax Amsterdam are Bayern’s women’s opponents. “We’re going into the games with a lot of confidence,” Straus had said in advance and predicted: “There will be close games, maybe even surprises.” On November 23rd, the Munich team will travel to Paris Saint-Germain.
Eintracht Frankfurt celebrated a successful group stage debut in the Champions League on Tuesday. In the first preliminary round game in the club’s history in the European premier class, the Hessians celebrated a 2-1 (1-0) victory against Swedish record champions FC Rosengard. Cup winners VfL Wolfsburg, who reached the final last season, failed to qualify for the group stage against Paris FC.