With heart and firm belief: Why the final dream lives on for FCB Women

At full time, Franziska Kett came back onto the pitch at the Allianz Arena. She’d just left it with her head down after being sent off; now her FC Bayern Women teammates waited for her. One after the other, they put their arms round her and spoke to her. It was a powerful moment after a noisy semi-final evening in the Champions League.

For as much as this 1-1 draw against FC Barcelona gave cause for optimism on the field, it was also clear that the closing stages had put a damper on things. Kett, who had earlier scored the equaliser, was shown a red card. Coach José Barcala was also sent to the stands during the fiery closing stages of the match. It was the major controversy of this first leg – and it’s a burden heading into the second leg on Sunday (16:30 CEST) in Barcelona. 

But that is precisely why the scene after the final whistle carried so much weight. In the middle of the field, the Bayern players gathered in a huddle, high-fived each other, and looked at one another – knowing full well that anything is still possible. Shortly afterward, they walked together toward the stands. The applause that greeted them was loud, long and well-deserved. “Come on, Bayern, fight and win!” echoed from the stands. 

Crowd of 31,000 at the Arena

It was a fitting ending to a turbulent evening that was marked not only by sending-offs and frantic play, but above all by resilience and a team that held its own against world-class opponents.

In front of a crowd of 31,000 – a club-record home attendance in the competition – what began as respect for the heavy favourites gradually turned into belief.

“Full credit to the team for their performance,” said director Bianca Rech. “Barcelona are a world-class side, and the way we held our own against this team is noteworthy.”

Barcala also immediately looked forward: “We have to keep believing in ourselves now. I’m so proud of the players; they execute every game plan we give them. We were aggressive, transitioned quickly and created chances for ourselves. It was clear we’d also have to dig in against Barcelona, but I see the progress we’ve made.”

Progress clear to see

This very progress was noticeable on Saturday evening. The crowd carried the team from the very start, as eager anticipation quickly turned into euphoria. The stands, particularly the Südkurve, came alive with every moment. And the players responded: disciplined and ready to stick to their game plan.

This plan was initially geared towards patience. Let Barcelona have the ball, keep the spaces tight, cut off passing lanes, and look for opportunities to transition. Two compact blocks of four, little space between the lines. The fact that Ewa Pajor put the visitors ahead as early as the eighth minute could have disrupted this, but it wasn’t.

Bayern remained solid. No panic, no collapse, no deviation from the game plan. Barcelona had plenty of possession but for a long time failed to create the multitude of clear chances that can quickly arise against this team.

“It was an arduous game, we had to move around and defend a lot,” said Klara Bühl. “But you just need that patience against Barcelona, you can’t go to sleep at all. You have to be completely switched on.”

But the plan’s success wasn’t just down to defensive discipline. It was also because Bayern kept sensing that something was possible up front. Linda Dallmann drew spontaneous applause with her dribbling, and Giulia Gwinn sent the stands wild with a backheel. Above all, it became clear that whenever Bayern broke through Barcelona’s initial press, the Catalans became vulnerable. “We realised they aren’t unbeatable,” Gwinn remarked.

Braver and more forceful

And the Munich girls should take those words with them to Barcelona. Just before half-time, as Bayern grew bolder and stepped up the pressure, that feeling emerged for the first time: there’s more in this. After the break, the FCB pressed higher up the field, attacked earlier and sensed opportunities to win the ball. Although Barcelona hit the post in the 49th minute, the direction was clear: Bayern didn’t just want to defend; Bayern wanted to get their reward.

In the 69th minute, that’s exactly what happened. A quick counter-attack down the left, Pernille Harder with the perfect vision, Kett with the composed finish to make it 1-1. The Allianz Arena erupted. The spark finally ignited – from the field to the stands and back again.

“When the plan works out like that, it’s obviously really cool,” said Bühl. “That’s why it just kind of fizzed out of us.” The equaliser was more than just a goal. It was confirmation that Bayern can find solutions against Barcelona with structure and courage.

Then things got edgy. After Kett was sent off, Bayern had to survive the final stages with a player less. “Despite being a woman down, we defended well until the end,” said Gwinn.

Barcelona pressed, Bayern defended passionately. Goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic was there when needed with an outstanding save in the 88th minute. And the stadium reacted just as it had all evening: as one. 

“Stand up if you’re Bayern,” echoed around. Long, drawn-out chants of “Baaayern” carried the team through the final minutes.

Plenty of reasons to believe

The task in the second leg is a huge one – Barcelona are a force at their own stadium, Camp Nou – but it didn’t feel like an insurmountable one on this evening. FC Bayern have reasons to belief. Or, as Gwinn put it: “Now it’s all or nothing in Barcelona.”

The match report on the first leg: