Pernille Harder came off the bench to mastermind an excellent comeback win for Bayern Munich in the UEFA Women’s Champions League against defending champions Arsenal.
At half-time, the Gunners were 2-0 up thanks to early goals from Emily Fox and Mariona Caldentey.
And they were dominant right up until the break.
Then ten minutes into the second half, Bayern coach Jose Barcala brought on Harder – who led her team to victory.
Alara Sehitler, Harder herself, and Glodis Viggosdottir got the goals – all assisted by Klara Buhl in a 19-minute spell from the 67th minute.
Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers also rolled the dice, bringing on Chloe Kelly and Frida Maanum on the hour, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Taylor Hinds in the 75th minute, and Olivia Smith eight minutes from time – but to no effect.
Harder spent three years at Chelsea, leaving in 2023 having helped them to three league and cup doubles as well as a Champions League final.
Arsenal already had plenty of warning of the damage the Denmark international could do – she scored a hat-trick against them in a 5-2 win in Germany during last season’s Champions League campaign.
Pernille Harder: I’m super happy
“It’s an unbelievable feeling, I’m super happy. These three points are so important for us and coming back from two goals, it’s really great,” said Harder on the Disney+ coverage of the game.
“I was ready when I came on, and just thought about it – we need to score goals, and get the ball going forward, and that’s what we did.”
Admitting that she loves scoring goals against Arsenal, she added: “I look what’s happening on the pitch, what Arsenal are doing, where I can find spaces, and prepare, and trust myself when I come on the pitch to be able to change the game.”
“The second half they just had a different energy about them and they put Arsenal on the back foot, and Arsenal struggled,” said pundit Fara Williams.
“The changes that Arsenal made lost them a little bit of momentum, the changes that Bayern Munich made gave them momentum, and gave them energy, and gave them quality when they had the ball, and I think that was the difference in the game.
“Before Arsenal made the substitutions, they were 2-0 up and quite comfortable. Bayern didn’t look like they were going to hurt Arsenal. Then they made the changes and Bayern made the changes.
“When Pernille Harder came into the game, the link-up between her and Buhl on that left side was really effective.”
