Bayern Munich overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat defending champions Arsenal 3-2 in the Women's Champions League league phase at Allianz Arena. Arsenal led through early goals from Emily Fox and Mariona Caldentey, but Bayern's second-half substitutes sparked a comeback with strikes from Alara Sehitler, Pernille Harder, and Glodis Viggosdottir. The result leaves Arsenal with two losses in three games.
Arsenal took control early in Munich, opening the scoring in the fifth minute when Emily Fox headed in a rebound after Bayern goalkeeper Maria Grohs parried a Beth Mead shot. The visitors doubled their lead in the 23rd minute as Mariona Caldentey fired home from the edge of the area following a loose pass from Stine Ballisager and hold-up play by Stina Blackstenius.
Bayern struggled in the first half, appearing out of sorts against Arsenal's high press and rarely venturing forward. However, the hosts mounted a remarkable turnaround after the break. In the 67th minute, substitute Alara Sehitler slid home a Klara Buehl cross to pull one back. Pernille Harder, another substitute, leveled the score in the 80th minute with a lobbed volley over Daphne van Domselaar, assisted by Buehl.
The winner came in the 86th minute when Glodis Viggosdottir prodded in Buehl's low cross from a corner, completing Bayern's hat-trick of assists for the Germany international. Arsenal coach Renee Slegers admitted, "It's not good enough. We don't want to concede three goals in one half in the Champions League." Bayern's Pernille Harder said, "Unbelievable feeling, these three points are so important for us."
Bayern, who lost 7-1 to Barcelona in their opener, now have back-to-back wins. Arsenal, after beating Benfica but losing to Lyon, face an uphill battle for a top-four spot. Bayern midfielder Georgia Stanway noted the second half was "a massive show of character."
Lineups remained unchanged at kickoff, with Arsenal starting Van Domselaar, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe, Mariona, Pelova, Russo, Mead, Foord, and Blackstenius. Bayern fielded Grohs, Gwinn, Viggosdottir, Ballisager, Kett, Tanikawa, Stanway, Schuller, Damnjanovic, Dallmann, and Buehl.
