Manchester City begin their 2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign with one of the toughest away assignments of the opening round, travelling to Germany to face Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
The English champions have started the new domestic season with three consecutive WSL victories, while Bayern reached the Champions League semi-finals last season and enter the new campaign determined to take another step in Europe. It will be the first competitive meeting between Bayern and Manchester City.
Match information Bayern Munich vs Manchester City
Competition: UEFA Women’s Champions League – League Phase
Date: Tuesday 22 September 2026
Kick-off: 17:45 BST / 18:45 CEST
Venue: Stadion am Sportpark, Unterhaching
How to watch Bayern Munich vs Manchester City
The match will be shown live on Disney+. Kick-off is at 17:45 BST, with viewers in Central Europe able to watch from 18:45 CEST.
Bayern Munich team news
Bayern will be without Magdalena Eriksson and Regina van Eijk for their Champions League opener. Eriksson remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Van Eijk is unavailable because of an ankle problem.
There is better news for José Barcala with Stine Ballisager and Bernadette Kakounan both available again following spells on the sidelines. Captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir should therefore lead the Bayern defence as they prepare for the threat posed by Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp.
Bayern are beginning a significant European campaign after reaching the Champions League semi-finals last season. Barcala described City as one of Europe’s strongest sides but believes opening the league phase at Bayern’s new home in Unterhaching gives his team plenty to look forward to.
Giulia Gwinn also made Bayern’s ambitions clear ahead of the game, saying the squad feels ready to take the next step after narrowly missing out on last season’s final.
Manchester City team news
Manchester City travel to Munich without Iman Beney after the defender suffered a head injury during Friday’s 4-2 victory over Liverpool. Beney required treatment early in that game before returning to the pitch with a heavily bandaged head, but Andrée Jeglertz confirmed ahead of the Champions League opener that she is not yet ready to travel.
City are also without Vivianne Miedema and Sydney Lohmann as they continue their recoveries from significant injuries. Otherwise, Jeglertz confirmed that the players included in City’s travelling squad are available for selection.
The City boss could make changes after rotating his starting XI against Liverpool. With City facing a demanding run of matches, Jeglertz said team selection will take into account the opposition as well as player workload and fitness.
City’s 20-player travelling squad is: Alex Greenwood, Anna Moorhouse, Aoba Fujino, Ayaka Yamashita, Beth Mead, Bunny Shaw, Carlotta Wamser, Eartha Cumings, Grace Clinton, Gracie Prior, Jade Rose, Kerstin Casparij, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Lauren Hemp, Mary Fowler, Mayzee Davies, Millie Burdon, Sacha Lewis, Sam Coffey and Yui Hasegawa.
Predicted line-ups
Bayern Munich predicted XI:
Grohs; Gwinn, Ballisager, Viggósdóttir, Simon; Stanway, Zadrazil; Bühl, Harder, Dallmann; Schüller.
Manchester City predicted XI:
Yamashita; Casparij, Rose, Greenwood, Wamser; Hasegawa, Coffey; Mead, Fowler, Hemp; Shaw.
A major first test for City
This should provide a much clearer indication of City’s European level than their opening domestic fixtures. Bayern were Champions League semi-finalists last season and have made a top-four finish in the new league phase one of their objectives. Viggósdóttir expects an evenly matched contest and highlighted similarities between the teams’ styles.
City’s attacking quality is obvious. Shaw remains the focal point, while Hemp has started the season particularly well and scored twice against Liverpool. But there were also warning signs in that victory. Liverpool’s high press caused City significant problems during the first half and defensive mistakes contributed to both goals they conceded.
Bayern have the quality to punish similar errors. The battle involving Shaw and Bayern’s central defence should be particularly important, while City’s ability to control midfield through Hasegawa and Coffey could determine how often Hemp and the other forwards receive the ball in dangerous positions.
What to expect
This has the potential to be one of the standout matches of the opening Champions League round. Neither side is likely to be satisfied simply protecting a point. Bayern have home advantage and want to establish Unterhaching as their new European home, while City return to the Champions League as English champions with ambitions of challenging deep into the competition.
Jeglertz is also prepared for periods in which Bayern control the game. He pointed to City’s 4-2 win over Liverpool as an example of his side having to manage spells when the opposition had the momentum.
The City boss wants his team to avoid dropping too deep during those periods and believes they have the attacking quality to punish Bayern when the momentum swings back in their favour.
City’s attacking form gives them reason for confidence, but Bayern represent a considerable step up in opposition. With both teams comfortable in possession and capable of attacking quickly when space opens up, there should be opportunities at both ends.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 2-3 Manchester City
There is very little separating the two sides on paper. City have started the season strongly, but their defensive vulnerability against Liverpool is something Bayern can exploit. A draw away against last season’s semi-finalists would still represent a solid beginning to City’s European campaign.
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