Mo-ments of magic! Bayern Munich triumphs over Manchester United at Old Trafford in UWCL quarterfinals first leg

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 25: Momoko Tanikawa of FC Bayern München Frauen celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's third goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-finals First Leg match between Manchester United FC and FC Bayern München at Old Trafford on March 25, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images) | Getty Images Bayern Munich overcame two equalizers to secure a 3-2 advantage from the first leg of its UEFA Women’s Champions League quarterfinals bout with Manchester United. The presumptive German champions were unfazed by going on the road to Old Trafford and stunned the hosts with a goal after just about 90 seconds courtesy of Pernille Harder, via an excellent long-range pass from Arianna Caruso.

The ball looped over the shoulder of United captain Maya Le Tissier and Harder ran onto it, nutmegging the United center-back and flummoxing keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce with her clever shot. That would be Bayern’s only real chance of the first half, however, and United managed to strike back. Hinata Miyazawa threaded in Lea Schüller, whose smart inside run took out four Bayern players dragged out wide as she barreled into the box.

The ex-Bayern striker took on the shot at a tight angle, but the block — from Bayern defender Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir — was a handball. Le Tissier promptly stepped up and converted from the spot. For a while the match then settled into a stalemate, both sides squandering what opportunities came their way, and the scoreline stood at 1-1 heading into the break.

Enter Momoko Tanikawa. Like her Japanese international teammate Miyazawa on the other side of the pitch, Tanikawa is freshly returned from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, where Japan lifted the trophy after triumphing over Australia in the Final. Tanikawa was introduced at the hour mark, and wasted little time taking over the game.