Pernille Harder scored twice as Bayern Munich secured a 3-2 advantage in the first leg against Manchester United in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals.
Man United looked set for a brave draw after two comebacks to equalize, but Momoko Tanigawa’s decisive strike in the 84th minute gave her side the advantage for next week’s return match in Germany.
Bayern scored with three of their four shots on target, but the first two were carbon copies of each other, with Harder escaping behind Maya Le Tissier to find herself one-on-one with Fallon Tallis-Joyce. She dispatched both professionally.
In between Harder’s goals was a well-taken penalty by captain Le Tissier, followed by a set-piece goal from a corner, with Hanna Lundqvist heading Le Tissier’s shot past Ena Mahmutovic.
Maya Le Tissier celebrates Man United’s spot-on equalizer against Bayern Munich
But the visitors, now unbeaten in 23 games, went even further from the opener, dominating possession and passing statistics with real quality, with influential substitute Tanigawa collecting a pass from Franziska Kett on the edge of the area and finishing superbly into the bottom corner of the goal.
Manager Mark Skinner will know his side must improve if they are to stand a chance of progressing while ensuring they dust themselves off in time for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in three days’ time. The challenge of playing on Europe’s elite stage for the first time while juggling domestic commitments became a reality.
Barça beat rivals Real to advance to semi-finals
Barcelona defeated rivals Real Madrid 6-2 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Barcelona took a step towards advancing to the last four of the Women’s Champions League with a 6-2 first-leg victory over rivals Real Madrid.
Eva Pahor scored two more goals from Esmy Burguts, Irene Paredes, Vicky López and a late penalty from Alexia Putelas to give Barça a big win at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium.
Linda Caicedo’s double for the hosts could not stop Madrid’s heavy defeat and the two teams will meet again next Thursday in the quarter-final second leg in Barcelona.
