Wamser nets late equaliser as Manchester City rally to draw 2-2 at Bayern Munich

Manchester City came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Bayern Munich in a Women's Champions League group-stage match at Sportpark Unterhaching on 22 September 2026. Giulia Gwinn and an own goal by Kerstin Casparij put Bayern ahead before Beth Mead and Carlotta Wamser levelled for City.

Bayern arrived with strong recent form, having gone unbeaten in their last 15 group-stage matches and reached the semi-finals last season, a run that Gwinn said left them "even hungrier and eager for more". The German side had also started their Frauen-Bundesliga defence with five wins from five, sitting two points clear at the top of the table. Andrée Jeglertz’s side travelled to Germany after a 4-2 win over Liverpool on Friday, arriving with confidence for a European test.

Bayern dominated the opening period after making several changes, with Barcala able to name five alterations to his starting XI having rested Klara Bühl and Gwinn against Köln on Saturday. Bühl, a Ballon d’Or nominee, posed early problems with pace and movement, creating openings and setting up opportunities for Pernille Harder. The hosts broke the deadlock after 11 minutes when Linda Dallmann drove through midfield and released Gwinn down the right; the full-back finished past Ayaka Yamashita to spark the 4,291-strong crowd.

City’s problems compounded soon after when a Harder cross was inadvertently turned into the net by Kerstin Casparij to make it 2-0. The visitors reduced the deficit before half-time in a controversial sequence: a blue smoke flare on the pitch did not halt play as Casparij advanced down the right and her cross fell to Beth Mead, who tapped home to give City a lifeline.

The second half became more even and presented clear moments for both sides. A foul on Aoba Fujino by Ena Mahmutovic resulted in a penalty, but the subsequent spot kick from Khadija Shaw was saved by the goalkeeper. Andrée Jeglertz made changes with Mary Fowler replacing Shaw and Laura Blindkilde Brown brought into central midfield. City found an equaliser with four minutes remaining when Carlotta Wamser, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, arrived at the edge of the area to rifle home on her return to Germany. Edna Imade had two late chances to win it for Bayern, but City held on for a point.

With a difficult fixture navigated, Manchester City will host Real Madrid next week in Manchester in the group stage, offering an immediate opportunity to build on this result.