Team News
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Mahmutovic; Gwinn, Viggosdottir, Gilles, Simon; Kakounan, Stanway; Dallmann, Tanikawa, Kett; Harder.
Substitutes: Grohs, Kreuzpaintner, Ballisager, Eriksson, Padilla, Caruso, Dunst, Imade, Zähringer.
In a notable change, Bernadette Kakounan steps in for Arianna Caruso, while Momoko Tanikawa returns to join Georgia Stanway in a defensive midfield role. This match marks a significant milestone for Stanway as she makes her 50th appearance in UEFA club competitions. At just 27 years and 88 days, she becomes the youngest English player to reach this achievement, eclipsing Keira Walsh, who achieved it at 27 years and 184 days.
Manchester United (4-3-3): Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, Lundkvist; Zigiotti Olme, Miyazawa, Awujo; Park, Malard, Rolfö.
Substitutes: Rendell, Middleton-Patel, George, Naalsund, Schüller, Anderson.
Head Coach Marc Skinner has made two adjustments from the first leg, bringing in Jayde Riviere and Simi Awujo to replace Lea Schüller and Lisa Naalsund. With injuries taking their toll, only four outfield players are available on the bench.
Referee: Tess Olofsson (Sweden)
Preamble
It’s Champions League time—a quarter-final showdown in the second leg as teams vie for a spot in the later stages. For Manchester United, this is not only a critical match but also a historic moment as they seek to overturn a slender 3-2 deficit against Bayern Munich after a pulsating encounter at Old Trafford. The momentum of that match swung in dramatic fashion, with United managing to equalize twice before succumbing to a stunning strike from Momoko Tanikawa.
“We’re not a team that just wants to make up the numbers; we want to progress deep into this competition,” asserted Manchester United coach, Marc Skinner. However, this task is formidable: United aims to become the first English team to secure a win at Bayern, a venue where the hosts have triumphed in all five of their prior home fixtures in the Women’s Champions League against English opposition.
I invite you to join me for the kick-off at 5:45 PM BST. Feel free to share your thoughts and predictions via email, as we head into what promises to be an exhilarating clash. Team news is on the horizon!
