UEFA Women's Champions League Preview: FC Bayern vs. Real Madrid

FC Bayern host Real Madrid in Unterhaching in the opening fixture of UEFA Women's Champions League matchday 3.

Jasmin Walter/Getty Images

Frauen-Bundesliga giants FC Bayern entertain Real Madrid in the opening fixture of matchday 3 in the UEFA Women's Champions League. Wednesday's game will be played at Bayern Frauen's new home, Uhlsport Park.

Jose Barcala's side scored five goals in consecutive games against Stuttgart and RB Leipzig after the international break. In the Champions League, Bayern squandered an early two-goal lead at home against Manchester City before beating Benfica with three late goals.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid recovered from a 7-0 El Clásico defeat with home wins against Espanyol and Tenerife. Liga F's second-placed side drew with PSG and Manchester City in their first two Champions League games of the campaign.

This will be the first competitive fixture between the sides, although FC Bayern and Real Madrid contested several classic encounters in the men's football. However, Bayern beat Real Madrid 4-1 in a pre-season friendly last year.

Team News

Lena Oberdorf and Guila Gwinn remain on the sidelines, but Jovana Damnjanović could return to the matchday squad for the first time since the win in Lisbon. Ena Mahmutović is suspended for the next Frauen-Bundesliga game after her red card in Leipzig, but the shot-stopper will once again start between the posts in the European night. 

Italian midfielder Arianno Caruso returns to her former club, while Germany international Elisa Senß and Lineth Beerensteyn also joined Real Madrid from Frauen-Bundesliga clubs in the summer.    

Predicted Lineups

Bayern: Mahmutović; Naschenweng, Ballisager, Viggosdottir ©, Kett; Amani, Tanikawa; Bühl, Sehitler, Dallman; Harder 

Real Madrid: Frohms; Cristobal, Andersson, Lakrar, Navarro; Jacinto, Senß, Caruso; Caicedo, Schröder, del Castillo ©