Kickoff: 12:15pm ET / 9:15am PT
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Bayern Munich
Bayern went into the quarter-final second-leg tie against Manchester United leading 3-2. When Melvine Malard rushed in behind the backline to equal the tie, Bayern looked shocked. United continued to take charge of the game and attack the hosts from all angles.
The second half saw Bayern start their attacks more centrally, getting the ball out to the wing or through the heart of Manchester United’s defence. As the game entered the 80th minute, Bayern got a corner which Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir turned in. Three minutes later, another corner; this one found Viggósdóttir again, but was cleared off the line and excellently volleyed in by Linda Dallmann on the rebound.
Tactical Approach
Dallmann started the season fairly slowly. By November, she had one goal and an assist. Dallmann’s form post November 1st has been excellent, contributing six assists and eight goals. The change in the playmaker’s form has coincided with her moving centrally and becoming part of the spine, rather than being stuck to the touchline.
José Barcala’s tactical tweaks, alongside the winter addition of centre midfielder Bernadette Amani, have made Bayern even more potent. Amani tends to play a deeper role, allowing Georgia Stanway, her midfield partner, to move up the pitch and link up with Pernille Harder, Momoko Tanikawa or the aforementioned Linda Dallmann.
Bayern predominantly attack the left-hand side, thanks to the recently recovered Klara Bühl and Carolin Simon. The left-sided pair have contributed twenty-eight assists alone. The left-sided preference enables German national team captain Guilia Gwinn ample space to score, provide or relieve pressure as an outball.
Bayern has been very strong this season, particularly from set pieces and corners. Eighteen of their goals in Bundesliga and Champions League action have come from corners and set pieces. Simon’s ability to put the ball in from crosses has become a valuable asset, two of which produced game-winning moments versus Manchester United. Simon’s 2.2 created chances per game give Bayern an edge that not many other teams have.
Barcelona
Barcelona went into their second leg encounter against Real Madrid with a 6-2 advantage. As expected, Barça was relaxed, calm and with total control. Misa Rodríguez in the Madrid net had already been tested twice as Alexia Putellas tapped in her second goal of the tie. The captain again was at the heart of Barça’s second, lofting in a cross that Caroline Graham Hansen headed home. Irene Paredes added a third from a corner before Ewa Pajor scored her twenty-seventh goal of the season. Barcelona added two more in the second half, courtesy of Graham Hansen and Esmee Brugts.
Tactical Approach
Barcelona will always attempt to attack through the centre, especially in midfield areas. The plan comes down to the quality of Alexia Putellas and Patri Guijarro. The duo is normally a trio, but the absence of Aitana Bonmatí due to injury has prevented that reality. Like Bayern, much of Barcelona’s play goes through Putellas on the left-hand side. Her ability to go past players, score goals(6), and assist(6) them has been decisive in this Champions League run.
An interesting facet of Barcelona’s play is how differently the right and left-backs play. Ona Battle and Esmee Brugts typically fill these roles. Battle will tuck inside and almost protect Graham Hansen when she is trying to dribble past a defender. Brugts, on the other hand, is effectively another winger, helping Clàudia Pina to come into the middle and score many of her nineteen goals this season. Brugts herself is a goal threat, scoring most of her ten goals from yards out.
Key Duels
Guilia Gwinn versus Esmee Brugts
Carolin Simon & Klara Bühl versus Ona Battle & Caroline Graham Hansen
Fun Facts
- Bayern and Barcelona won their fourth and seventh league titles in a row on Wednesday.
- The teams met on Matchday one, where Barcelona prevailed 7-1
- It was Barcelona’s fifth biggest win and Bayern’s biggest defeat in their Champions League histories.
