Lyon eek out 2-1 victory, eliminate Bayern Munich from Women’s Champions League

Bayern Munich gave the reigning four-time European champions all they could handle, but it wasn’t enough as Lyon came away with a 2-1 win.

The Bavarians will be absolutely pleased with the first 40 minutes of the game. They will likewise be extremely disappointed with how the first half ended. Jens Scheuer sent the Frauen out in a 4-4-1-1 formation with counterattacking in mind, and it showed well for the first half. While Lyon held the majority of the possession, they were unable to generate not just clear-cut chances but really anything threatening Laura Benkarth in the Bayern goal.

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Still, Lyon’s pressing caused Bayern fits in trying to generate any chances of their own. However, in the 22nd minute, Bayern nearly captured the lead. Hanna Glas found herself out wide and whipped in a cross that left Lea Schuller just inches from poking the ball into the back of the net.

Then, just before halftime, disaster struck for Bayern. After keeping Lyon from creating any chances throughout the first half, a flick over the top had Nikita Parris in a footrace where she beat Kristin Demann to the ball. Unfortunately, Benkarth was slow off her line, and while she clattered into Parris, the ball ended up in the back of the net.

Bayern XI: Benkarth — Simon, Demann, Hegering, Glas (Ilestedt 80) — Gwinn, Magull, Lohmann (Zadrazil 80), Beerensteyn — Dallmann — Schuller (Damnjanovic 60 - Laudehr 75)

The second half started better for Lyon as they pushed for a second goal. That goal would only take them 15 minutes, when Amel Majri sent a free kick into the back of the net off of the diving hands of Benkarth.

That two goal advantage, however, would only last for five minutes. Bayern won a free kick of their own in the 64th minute, and Carolin Simon’s low effort missed everybody in the penalty area and pulled Bayern back within one goal.

Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

In the 79th minute, Sidney Lohmann smacked a shot from the top of the box off of the crossbar nearly finding the equalizer for Bayern.

The Bavarians pressed for the second goal, giving Lyon fits. Unfortunately, Bayern was unable to find the equalizer and bow out of the 2019/20 UEFA Women’s Champions League in the Quarterfinals.

As Bayern will now head into preparing for the start of the 2020/21 season, their concern will be with striker Jovana Damnjanovic who had to come off after only 14 minutes in the second half due to a knee injury. Fingers crossed that it’s not serious.