Bayern München vs Arsenal Women's Champions League preview: Where to watch, starting line-ups

Bayern München and Arsenal meet in the UEFA Wonen's Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday 21 March at the Fußball Arena München.

What do you need to know

Both these teams fell in the quarter-finals last season, Bayern to Paris Saint-Germain in extra time and Arsenal against Wolfsburg. Each also beat a 2022 finalist in the group stage, Bayern defeating Barcelona and Arsenal prevailing 5-1 at holders Lyon. Bayern have unhappy memories of meeting Chelsea in the 2020/21 semis and 2017/18 round of 32 but then Arsenal have lost five out of six knockout ties against German clubs.

Bayern, since losing 3-0 at Barcelona a couple of weeks before their return victory, are on a run of 12 straight competitive wins. The likes of Lea Schüller, Klara Bühl, Lina Magull and England's Georgia Stanway are all in good attacking form though there was a blow earlier this month with the loss for the season of Linda Dallmann, at that point Bayern's top scorer. Full-back Carolin Simon should be fit, however.

Arsenal, in a record 15th quarter-final, aim to reach their first semi since 2012/13, and after a mixed start to the year in the long-term absence of Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema, showed their true face earlier this month when they came from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1 in the League Cup final. That victory was orchestrated by captain Kim Little, who scored when they got past Italy's Torres in the last eight a decade ago.

Newly in their squad are January signings Kathrine Kühl and Miedema's Netherlands colleague Victoria Pelova (who faced Arsenal with Ajax in round 2) as the Gunners look to recapture the form of their Mead-inspired success at Lyon. Although freshly-arrived goalkeeper Sabrina d'Angelo has also been added, Arsenal should stick with Manuela ZInsberger, who joined in 2019 after five seasons at Bayern.

Form guide

Bayern
Last six games (most recent result first): WWWWWW
Last match: Köln 0-5 Bayern, 18/03
Where they stand: 2nd in Bundesliga, German Cup semi-finals

Arsenal
Last six games: WWWLLW
Last match: Arsenal 4-0 Reading, 12/03
Where they stand: 4th in Women's Super League, League Cup winners

Squad changes

Bayern
In: Tuwa Hansen
Out: Janina Leitzig

Arsenal
In: Sabrina d'Angelo, Kathrine Kühl, Victoria Pelova
Out: Mana Iwabuchi, Jordan Nobbs

Starting line-ups

Bayern: Grohs; Rall, Kumagai, Viggósdóttir, Hansen; Zadrazil, Stanway; Magull; Bühl, Schüller, Lohmann

Arsenal: Zinsberger; Wienroither, Williamson, Rafaelle, Maritz; Little, Maanum, Wälti; McCabe, Blackstenius, Foord

View from the camps

Alexander Straus, Bayern coach: "Arsenal are a very similar team to us. They have a lot of individual quality. They are dynamic and work well defensively. They are a quality team that we respect, but they also respect us."

Sarah Zadrazil, Bayern midfielder: "It is always something special to play at [Fußball Arena München]. We have very fond memories of the last game against Barcelona. I wouldn't call it routine to be here, it's pure motivation and anticipation.

"We are in really good shape right now. We've got into a certain flow in recent weeks and we've shown that in the last games. We want to measure ourselves against the best and we have the chance to do so again."

Jonas Eidevall, Arsenal coach: "We know we will play against a good team, but we are also a good team. There are a lot of similarities in the way both teams play, so it is an exciting match-up from that perspective as well.

[On facing a team who have won all their home games this season, including one against Barcelona] "We’ve been playing teams who have had great home records this year in the Champions League. Both Lyon and Juventus have good home records in the Champions League: we drew in Turin and won in Lyon. We have respect for it but we don’t fear it."

Manuela Zinsberger, Arsenal goalkeeper: "It’s always good to come back. I played for Bayern for five years: it was a long time. I am thankful for all those years and how I developed. I love Bayern, I love Munich, it’s close to my family but tomorrow I’ll wear another jersey and I am also happy with that.

"I won't underestimate anyone. Bayern, they have good quality in all positions. That's why they are in Champions League and that's why we’ll see a competitive game with hopefully a positive outcome for Arsenal."

Where is the 2023 UEFA Women's Champions League final being played?

UEFA

Eindhoven's PSV Stadium will stage the 2023 UEFA Women's Champions League final at 16:00 CET on Saturday 3 June.

First opened in 1910, the 35,000-capacity PSV Stadium has a long history of hosting major matches, including the UEFA Cup finals of 1978 (second leg) and 2006, the second leg of the 1988 UEFA Super Cup and three games at UEFA EURO 2000.

On 6 April 2018, 30,238 fans at the home of PSV Eindhoven watched the Netherlands beat Northern Ireland on the way to the FIFA Women's World Cup, a record crowd for any UEFA-organised women's qualifier. On 1 June 2019, a then Dutch record women's football attendance of 30,640 saw the Netherlands face Australia in a friendly at the stadium.