Manchester City fought back from two goals down to begin their Women’s Champions League campaign with a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich, but a missed Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw penalty proved costly for the reigning WSL champions.
City were making their return to Europe after failing to qualify in 2025-26, and struggled for much of the first half in Munich as the defensive disruption plaguing them this season continued.
Bayern were 2-0 up after 28 minutes thanks to a Giulia Gwinn strike and a bizarre own goal by Kerstin Casparij, but a spirited second half from City helped them salvage a point. Beth Mead’s tap-in and a late Carlotta Wamser equaliser rescued the night, but Shaw will rue her miss from the spot just after the hour.
Andrée Jeglertz opted for his strongest XI against Bayern after rotating his team in City’s 4-2 win over Liverpool in the WSL last week. Casparij, Aoba Fujino and Sam Coffey all came into the starting line-up, while Mead was preferred in the number 10 position.
It was Casparij’s right side that Bayern looked to exploit, with City’s full-back pushing high, as she so often does. Bayern transformed turnovers into quick counters down their left side, and Klara Bühl regularly found herself in acres of space in the first 10 minutes of the game. Bayern found their breakthrough in the 11th.
Yui Hasegawa’s turnover led to Linda Dallmann playing the perfect through ball to a marauding Gwinn, who finished low across Ayaka Yamashita from the right-hand side of the box.
The narrative around City this season has been about impressive attacking variety and depth, but also a chaotic defence that is struggling to prevent chances and keep clean sheets.
That was on display in full force when the home side grabbed their second in the 28th minute. Casparij was at the scene of the crime as she failed to sort out her feet and clear a rudimentary Pernille Harder cross, eventually flicking the ball into the back of her own net under absolutely no pressure.
The backheel finish was bizarrely impressive, but it would have been simpler for Casparij to boot the ball into Row Z than into her own goal. City were left shellshocked.
Jeglertz’s side should be commended for staying in the game given Bayern’s total dominance in the first half. Their resilience was impressive as Bayern controlled proceedings, and their commitment was rewarded with a gift just before the break when Beth Mead managed to stab home the rebound from Shaw’s shot. Bayern tried their best to protest the goal as a blue flare had been thrown on the pitch just as City were on the attack, but the pyro wasn’t enough to jeopardise Bayern’s defensive responsibilities, they did that themselves.
That lifeline was enough to revive City in the second half and they delivered a completely different performance. As Bayern’s press and intensity faded, City were able to build sustained possession and, even though it didn’t result in many chances, they found themselves in positive territory.
A moment of stupidity from Bayern goalkeeper Mahmutovic gave Shaw the opportunity to make it 2-2 on the hour mark, but Shaw’s poor effort was easily saved. Jeglertz was quick to respond, removing Shaw seconds later and bringing on Mary Fowler, whose introduction added more fluidity to City’s attack.
City’s renewed energy brought momentum and the equaliser finally came through an unlikely source. Left-back Wamser found herself unmarked on City’s left and finished to make it 2-2 in the 86th minute.
Bayern could have grabbed a late winner through substitute Edna Imade, who had two brilliant chances in the dying minutes of the game, but the hosts were ultimately left wondering how they didn’t put the game to bed during a dominant first half.
For City, this was yet more evidence of their relentless fight and belief. It isn’t sustainable against Europe’s elite to have to climb mountains each and every game, and Jeglertz will be hoping that their return to Europe isn’t quite this dramatic every week. But they once again proved they won’t give up even when their backs are against the wall.