Bayern shoots Wolfsburg: It smells like a changing of the guard

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Cheers in red, disappointment in green: Bayern dominated Wolfsburg

Photo:

Susanne Hübner; Susanne Huebner / Susanne Hübner / IMAGO

Once Wolfsburg, now Munich I:

Pernille Harder moved to VfL Wolfsburg in 2017, matured into one of the best players in the world and won the double four times with Wolfsburg. In 2020, as the most expensive player in the world at the time, she moved to Chelsea FC, from where she moved on to Munich in the summer of 2023. Now she is on the verge of winning the championship with the Munich team, thanks in part to her 1-0 goal. National player Klara Bühl won the ball at the left back, marched and then played a long ball to Harder. Shortly after the break, the Dane wobbled her opponents, hit a hook in the penalty area and scored with her left. The she-wolves' resistance became less minute by minute.

Result:

FC Bayern won 4-0 (0-0) at VfL Wolfsburg on matchday 17 of the women's Bundesliga. In addition to Harder (48th minute), Klara Bühl scored from a direct corner (57th), Lea Schüller (76th) and Georgia Stanway (87th). And because the She-Wolves had made a mistake against third-placed Hoffenheim the previous week, while Bayern have been winning everything for weeks, the Munich team's lead at the top of the table is now seven points. You're not making a bold thesis when you say: The German champion in women's football this season comes from Munich.

From Wolfsburg to Munich II:

It would be the second championship title in a row for Bayern, after Wolfsburg had been the measure of all things for years. No wonder that before the game the main question was whether there would be a final “changing of the guard,” as Bayern President Herbert Hainer had already announced. In Wolfsburg, of course, the talk was a bit sniffy, and it is still too early to predict who will dominate German football in the future. But there is a lot to be said for the financially strong Bavarians, who are strengthening themselves again in the summer: National player Lena Oberdorf comes from Wolfsburg, and at 22 years old she is already one of the best midfielders in the world.

The hospital is getting bigger:

It was only 20 minutes into the game when Wolfsburg's central defender Marina Hegering collapsed. Without the influence of an opponent she collapsed, Hegering of all people, one might say. The central defender, who was once under contract with FC Bayern, seems to be picking up injuries. The 33-year-old has thought about quitting several times, but she has fought her way back again and again and is also scheduled to be part of the German Olympic team. “Let’s hope it’s not that bad,” said national coach Horst Hrubesch on ARD during the break. He will also think the same about the second prominent Wolfsburg loss: DFB captain Alex Popp. The attacker suffered a knee injury in the defeat in Hoffenheim last week and was therefore missing from the top game.

First half:

A goalscorer with Alex Popp's class would have done the game good in the first half. Because both teams played forward with amazing courage, without any of the scanning that is typical of top games. Bayern's Giulia Gwinn hit the crossbar, Wolfsburg's Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir just missed the ball while standing free in front of the Bayern goal. It went back and forth wildly, first the Bavarians were stronger, then the She-Wolves, then the Bavarians again. Just one hit, it didn't want to fall yet.

Second half:

Wolfsburg didn't manage to score in the second half, but Bayern turned up the heat. First Harder's goal after a swerve, then Klara Bühl made her big appearance: The national player placed the ball on the left for a corner and then aimed it with a lot of spin towards the Wolfsburg goal. Bayern's Jovana Damnjanović jumped up, but was only by her hair, if at all. The ball turned towards the visibly surprised keeper Merle Frohms, but she was unable to parry. A quarter of an hour before the end, Harder then wonderfully passed through to Lea Schüller, who carefully scored to make it 3-0. Bayern then holed up at the back and only ventured forward once, whereupon Georgia Stanway promptly scored Bayern's fourth goal. On the other hand, the pop-less Wolfsburg women remained far too safe despite a few chances.

Spectator magnet:

More than 24,000 fans came, the game took place in the Volkswagen Arena, where the men usually play, but they are either taking a break or are on an international trip. The vast majority of spectators were, of course, for Wolfsburg and gave the team building applause despite the bitter defeat. But only the around 250 fans from Munich who celebrated Munich's first victory in Wolfsburg in 15 years had reason to celebrate.

Cup team:

Both teams said goodbye to the Champions League very early. The championship has also been decided. The DFB Cup still promises excitement. VfL Wolfsburg will welcome SGS Essen next Saturday, Bayern will welcome Eintracht Frankfurt a day later. If the two favorites prevail, the two best teams will meet again on May 9th in Cologne. Wolfsburg won the cup last season, and if they succeed again, Tommy Stroot's team will need a significant increase in performance - and fewer injured players.