- Bayern Munich Women have won all of their notable meetings with Manchester United Women since 2022, but these two sides have never met in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
- Bayern have won their last five games in all competitions, rarely conceding and consistently scoring multiple goals.
- Bayern are top of the Frauen-Bundesliga on 52 points from 18 games with an impressive goal difference.
Historic night awaits United at Old Trafford
Manchester United Women will play their first ever UWCL knockout game at Old Trafford on Wednesday when they take on perennial powerhouses Bayern Munich in the first leg of this all-English-German quarter-final.
José Barcala’s side have won their last five matches, including 4-1 and 6-0 victories over Wolfsburg and Carl Zeiss Jena respectively, rarely conceding and consistently scoring multiple goals.
Bayern are the clear favourites at 2.55 to win this tie against United, who are just behind at 2.45 with the draw at 3.4 in this potentially close first leg.
Bayern to be tested by United’s compact system
Marc Skinner’s side are third in the WSL and have been in great form in the UWCL since knocking out Atletico Madrid 5-0 on aggregate in the previous round. United’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea was their only blip in their last five, with Skinner’s squad having the depth to rotate players and keep the momentum going in Europe.
Skinner’s tactics are flexible, but Manchester United Women are a high-pressing side that are at their most dangerous in transition when they can finish off opponents in an instant, rather than trying to play through them in a drawn-out affair. Bayern will test United’s back four and ability to cope with high-quality wide attackers and set-piece play, so the visitors may just edge this game in a tight first-leg encounter.
Jess Park is United’s wide ace
Bayern are a higher-possession, high-pressing team than United, who favour a back four and No.6 as their foundations, with wingers and midfielders creating the width and bite. While Pernille Harder and Klara Bühl are the big guns up top, Bayern can get goals from anywhere in their team, with Bühl’s assists and set-piece ability a great foil to Harder’s finishing.
Lea Schüller’s recent arrival to United has added some depth to their striking force, but the Red Devils’ best chances are often created by wingers like Jess Park, who scored a spectacular long-range goal in the UWCL play-offs and is United’s most creative player from midfield. Julia Zigiotti Olme and Melvine Malard have been in fantastic form of late and can provide goals and versatility for Bayern.
A large crowd at Old Trafford will be electric for this game and the cool, clear evening should suit both teams’ styles of play. Expect a high-tempo game, but this could be cagey as a first-leg so the ‘under 2.5 goals’ market is probably best suited to the occasion, given Bayern’s recent dominance and United’s European form.
