Manchester City fight back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Bayern Munich on Champions League return

City avoid first defeat to Bayern in Europe

Manchester City’s eventful return to the Women’s Champions League saw them come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 away to Bayern Munich and become the first English side to avoid defeat to the Germans in Europe.

Bayern were 2-0 up inside the first half-hour and had chances to put the result beyond doubt, but with seconds ticking down to the interval Kerstin Casparij’s break down the right led to Beth Mead eventually tapping in to make it 2-1.

Giulia Gwinn opened the scoring in the 11th minute after Linda Dallmann drove unchallenged from the halfway line before finding Gwinn, who calmly lifted the ball over Ayaka Yamashita and into the far corner.

Klara Buhl volleyed straight at Yamashita, while Jovana Damjanović blazed over as Bayern cut through City’s midfield once again. Lauren Hemp almost conjured a goal out of nothing when her deflected cross clipped the top of the crossbar, but it proved only a brief respite.

Harder soon whipped a cross into the box, with Casparij making a complete mess of her attempted clearance and inadvertently diverting the ball into her own net.

It was the stroke of luck City needed, and they benefited again when Ena Mahmutovic appeared caught between two minds as she raced out to close down Aoba Fujino. The goalkeeper initially appeared content to let the ball run out of play, only to inexplicably stick out a leg and bring down the City winger.

Shaw, who had been due to be substituted, could not capitalise and was immediately replaced.

City’s Germany international Carlotta Wamser was left completely unmarked in the penalty area to score her first City goal in the 86th minute after prolific striker Khadija Shaw had earlier missed a penalty to equalise.

City midfielder Sam Coffey told the club’s official website: "Beth's goal changed momentum going into half-time. We connected better and were more front-footed in the second half. So it was huge to take that into half-time and continue to turn the game around."

"We wanted to win the game, so we're disappointed we didn't do that, but to come away from a really tough place with a draw is something we should be proud of."

On the substitutes, Coffey added: "It's one of the best parts of our team of how deep we are. We have so many gamechangers and whoever comes into the game is going to have an impact on it."