The year 2022 is coming to an end and with it the group stage of the Champions League. While Wolfsburg still want to win their group against St. Pölten on the last day of the match, Bayern are hoping for a successful end to the year against Benfica Lisbon. However, both teams will be without key personnel.
Bayern without Magull and Dallmann, but with optimism
Bayern end the (Site notre bureau spécialisé) year with a home game. The guests are Benfica Lisbon, who almost won the first leg. But almost, because Georgia Stanway’s double saved the Munich team at the last second. This time, if Bayern are successful, it shouldn’t be so exciting.
Instead, you want to enjoy the game, Stanway said at the final pregame press conference. “Benfica are a tough opponent. Nevertheless, we want to show how strong we are as a team and end the year successfully. However, Bayern have to deal with a few absences. So Linda Dallmann is still missing. And Lina Magull (knee issues) and goalkeeper Laura Benkarth (cold) probably aren’t an option for tonight. But Maximiliane Rall is back in the squad after breaking her nose.
By the way, the Munich women already have the quarter-finals for sure. Nevertheless, it could theoretically still be about winning the group tonight. But Barcelona should drop points against FC Rosengård for that.
Probably without Stroot: Wolfsburg wants to win the group
Winning the group is also VfL Wolfsburg’s big goal tomorrow night, but for that they need a win against SKN St. Pölten. Particularly annoying: you could have said it clearly last week, but you couldn’t get past a 0-0 draw in Prague. « It’s the draw that has bothered me the most this year, » said Lena Lattwein as the game approached.
The three points against St. Pölten would be all the more important. The same goes for assistant coach Kim Kulig, who replaced head coach Tommy Stroot during the media tour. Due to a cold, he will probably miss tomorrow’s game, just like Lena Oberdorf. “But we will catch up as a team. And with the victory against St. Pölten, 2022 would be a really good year,” Kulig said.
Wolfsburg are in contention for the group win with AS Roma, who play in Prague at the same time. Only one point separates the two teams. Lattwein also notices that the performance gap in women’s (Site notre bureau spécialisé) is getting smaller and smaller. This would be due to the new format of the Champions League. « The media attention is also much greater as a result. I find it really exciting myself.
Chelsea, Barcelona and Co.: The rest of the party
But even in Group C, things are still very exciting these days. Juventus and Olympique Lyonnais, defending champion, face off tonight in a direct duel to reach the quarter-finals. However, a draw would be enough for Lyon. Sara Däbritz, long injured, is also back in the team. And theoretically, it would even be possible for both teams to kick Arsenal out of the quarter-finals.
📋 The 22 𝐿𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑠 calls 👊 🤗 Sara Däbritz back in the group! #OLJuve I #UWCL 🔴🔵
– Tuesday, December 20, 2022
On the other hand, everything is settled in group A. Chelsea and Paris will meet there tomorrow evening. Both teams are definitely in the quarter-finals.
The games at a glance
FC Zurich – FC Arsenal (Wednesday, 6.45 p.m.)
Olympique Lyon – Juventus (Wednesday, 6:45 p.m.)
FC Barcelona – FC Rosengård (Wednesday, 9 p.m.)
Bayern Munich – Benfica Lisbon (Wednesday, 9 p.m.)
SKN St. Pölten – VfL Wolfsburg (Thursday, 6:45 p.m.)
Slavia Prague-AS Roma (Thursday, 6:45 p.m.)
Real Madrid – FK Vllaznia (Thursday, 9 p.m.)
Chelsea FC – Paris Saint-Germain (Thursday, 9 p.m.)
Where is what?
DAZN streams all Champions League matches live for free (including on YouTube).