It’s the last realistic shot at a title and Bayern Munich’s footballers are determined to take it after recent setbacks. In the semi-finals of the DFB Cup on Sunday (12:30 p.m. / ARD and Sky) against VfL Wolfsburg, the reigning German champions want to make the 6-0 loss in the Bundesliga two weeks ago forgotten.
“We definitely want to show a different face,” emphasized national player Sydney Lohmann, who, like many of her colleagues, was missing from the Bundesliga leaders in the clear defeat on April 3 due to Corona. On Sunday on the FC Bayern campus, she should now play again despite a training deficit. “We want to leave everything on the pitch,” she announced.
At the gossip in Wolfsburg, the Munich women, who were already severely decimated due to Corona, were still in their legs when they were eliminated in the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League against Paris St. Germain (2: 2 aet). “A fundamentally different game” is therefore also expected by Wolfsburg coach Tommy Stroot. “There will be more breadth again at Munich,” said the 33-year-old at the press conference on Friday. He also counts on Bayern women “who will do everything they can to seize the last chance for the title”.
After all, defending the championship title is no longer an issue for the Munich team – Wolfsburg are four points ahead in the Bundesliga three games before the end of the season. The cup final will take place in Cologne on May 28, Wolfsburg have won the pot for the past seven years.
Of course, the Munich women are still handicapped when it comes to planning to win the DFB Cup for the second time after 2012. Serbian striker Jovana Damnjanovic suffered an ankle injury in the surprising victory in the World Cup qualifier against Germany (3-2) and is in danger of being sidelined. Goalkeeper Cecilia Runarsdottir will definitely be out with a broken hand.
But VfL also have worries in the box: Germany goalkeeper Almuth Schult (shoulder injury) is questionable. The first deputy Lisa Weiß has to pass due to an operation, the Pole Katarzyna Kiedrzynek returned from the national team injured. The fourth keeper is 19-year-old Julia Kassen. He has “no stomach ache,” Stroot said.