Champions Bayern Munich landed their first win in the second league game. Cologne put up a good fight against the overpowering Munich team for a long time, but they then struck coldly. Munich defeated 1. FC Köln 2-0 (1-0) in the first Monday game of the women’s Bundesliga (October 2, 2023).
The favorites from Munich took control of the game from the start. However, Cologne, which was weakened in terms of personnel due to many injuries, was tactically adjusted very cleverly by coach Daniel Weber. The guests moved attentively and disciplined, but without becoming too active offensively.
Cologne keeper Pal had a great day
But the Munich team, who acted variably, remained patient and created not many, but some top-class scoring chances. Lea Schüller took a perfect cross from Pernille Harder with her head, but Jasmin Pal in the Cologne box made an excellent save (21′). Also a short time later, when Lina Magull shot from a half-right position. The visiting team’s goalkeeper stood out again.
Pal made her biggest save against a long-range shot from Georgia Stanway when she superbly fished the ball out of the corner (25th). Shortly before the break, however, the Austrian was powerless: the strong Linda Dallmann served Giulia Gwinn on the right wing, who was able to cross with precision without an opponent. Access Pernille Harder ran perfectly into position and headed powerfully from close range to give the hosts the lead.
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Even after the break, FC Bayern retained the upper hand. The Rhinelanders increasingly lost their strength against the Munich women, who were diligently letting the ball and their opponents run.
Although Cologne remained focused, the second goal showed Bayern’s great individual class. The English European champion and runner-up World Champion Stanway took advantage of a brief lack of attention in Cologne’s build-up game and sent Dallmann into the depths with a world-class pass. Dallmann spotted keeper Pal and coolly shot in to make it 2-0 (57′).
Schüller misses the third goal, Lohmann twists his ankle
Munich pushed for the third goal and had the best chance through Schüller, who passed the ball from Sydney Lohmann after a beautiful cross from the left side (74th). Lohmann, who had recently been substituted, twisted her ankle a little later and had to leave the field injured after just seven minutes of action. Cologne got another shot through captain Sharon Beck in the final phase, but her shot was blocked.
The last chance of the game was missed by Munich’s Jovana Damnjanović and Jill Baijings, who were too imprecise on a counterattack and went offside.
In the table, the Munich women moved into third place behind the two Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg women who were still without a loss. Cologne ranks eighth.
Cologne against MSV, Munich in Essen
On the third matchday, Cologne will play at home against MSV Duisburg (Saturday, October 7th, 23, 12 p.m.), and Bayern will play at SGS Essen the following day (2 p.m.).