Start of the Women’s Champions League
Seven goals conceded – FC Bayern experiences disaster in Barcelona
Updated 10/07/2025 – 11:08 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
In the first premier class game, the ambitious German champions were clearly shown their limits. On top of that, the injury list is also lengthening.
The FC Bayern footballers experienced an evening to forget at the start of the new Champions League season. The German champions received a nasty 7-1 defeat at last year’s finalists and top favorites FC Barcelona. Above all, the poor defensive behavior is likely to give Bayern coach José Barcala a headache.
The two-time world footballer Alexia Putellas (4th), the long-time Wolfsburg goalscorer Ewa Pajor (12th) and Esmee Brugts (27th) made things clear in the first half hour against the sometimes overwhelmed Munich team. After Klara Bühl’s goal (31′), Salma Paralluelo (45’+1), Pajor again (56′) and Claudia Pina (88’/90’+2) followed up.
Barcelona dominated almost at will from the start, creating chance after chance. The Munich women had no access to the game or their opponents – and they made mistakes. Before the first goal, Bühl played a cross pass in front of his own penalty area directly into the feet of goal scorer Putellas, with the second goal the entire defense seemed disorganized.
After Brugts’ 3-0 win, Pernille Hader called her teammates together, but the encouragement only helped temporarily. After Bühl’s goal and a great chance from Magdalena Eriksson (38th), Paralluelo was not significantly disturbed either. The break only gave the Munich team a short breather. After the change, the video assistant conceded a goal from Lea Schüller for offside, then Barcelona’s avalanche of attacks rolled again in the direction of goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic. Offensive actions by the Bayern women were in short supply.
To make matters worse, Bayern’s left-back Carolin Simon injured her thigh in the first half. She immediately signaled that they would be replaced. The 32-year-old shed bitter tears on the bench and is threatened with being out for several weeks. After Sarah Zadrazil, Vanessa Gilles and Jovana Damnjanović, she would be the next important player that Bayern would have to do without in the coming games.
On October 16th, the Munich team will face Juventus Turin in their home game, then they will face defending champions FC Arsenal (November 12th).